It was 2004, and coach Lon Kruger had just arrived and started to rebuild the Rebels' basketball program.

Adams was playing in the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, and he had a question for Rick Nelson, his AAU coach for Houston Elite.

"I asked my summer league coach, 'Who is UNLV recruiting?' " Adams said. "I told him I really wanted to go to UNLV, but they weren't recruiting me.

"He said, 'I can make a phone call.' "

Adams, from Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, grew up a Rebels fan. He said he had a good time on the Strip and he was impressed by the Thomas & Mack Center.

After Nelson's phone call, UNLV assistant coach Lew Hill contacted Adams and got the ball rolling. The 6-foot guard soon became the most important recruit to commit to the Rebels in Kruger's four years.

"I met Coach Kruger, and that's when I knew I wanted to come here," Adams said.

About to begin his senior year, Adams still is Kruger's highest-ranked recruit, according to Rivals.com. Adams was ranked 25th in the nation in the class of 2005. He led the way to UNLV, and several top prospects are following.

"The recruiting is improving," Adams said. "We're getting better and better, and we're getting more athletic players. A lot of guys are looking at UNLV because we're going to the tournament."

The Rebels are 57-15 with three NCAA Tournament wins over the past two seasons, raising the profile of the program considerably.

"I think players are certainly receptive to what's happening here," said Kruger, who cannot comment on unsigned recruits. "Good players want to play with other good players, and that enhances recruiting."

One good sign of that: It's mid-August and UNLV is out of scholarships and essentially done recruiting for next year.

The Rebels' classes for 2008 and 2009 are combinations of prep prospects and junior-college and major-college transfers.

The incoming group for 2008 includes point guard Oscar Bellfield of Westchester High in Los Angeles, 6-10 Brice Massamba from Findlay College Prep, small forward DeShawn Mitchell from Monmouth Academy in Howell, N.J., and 6-8 Darris Santee of Midland (Texas) College.

Point guard Tre'Von Willis, a transfer from Memphis, and 7-foot Beas Hamga are two more newcomers who redshirted last season. Hamga was ranked 26th in the 2007 senior class.

Mojave High's Anthony Marshall, a 6-3 guard, orally committed to UNLV on Thursday to close out recruiting for 2009. Marshall, who ranks as the 67th-best senior in the nation, said he also considered UCLA.

Marshall joins two other prep stars -- 6-10 forward Carlos Lopez of Findlay Prep and 6-3 guard Justin Hawkins from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High. Lopez is ranked No. 101 by Rivals.com, but his talent is obvious and he probably deserves a higher ranking.

Also eligible in 2009 will be Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper, a 6-6 point guard, and 6-8 forward Chace Stanback, a transfer from UCLA. Jasper ranked 38th in 2006, and Stanback ranked 69th in 2007.

"I don't even think the rankings matter. I've seen guys who were never even ranked have great careers," said Adams, who will start this season alongside two seniors, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau, who were unranked out of high school.

"Coach Kruger is going to get guys who will come in and play defense and help the team."

• NOTE -- The complete Mountain West Conference schedule is set to be released this week. UNLV's regular-season finale will be at San Diego State on March 7. The 7 p.m. game will be televised by CBS College Sports.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.