Jayden Brewer, Florida International’s leading scorer last year, traveled to Vegas looking for a new home.
Jayden Brewer to Visit Vegas, Looking for New Team
After three seasons with 35 overall wins, senior swingman Brewer hopped into the transfer portal. In all honesty, no one can blame him. The team struggles to climb from the lower echelon of Conference USA. Sam Kayser from 24/7 High School Sports broke the story with this tweet.
Florida International guard Jayden Brewer is visiting UNLV tomorrow, he tells @LeagueRDY.
Brewer has spent all three collegiate seasons at FIU and had a breakout season this year for the Panthers. He’s a native of Indianapolis, Indiana.
He averaged 14.5PPG, 5.3RPG, 1.7APG and… pic.twitter.com/9f4HoJsPqR
— Sam Kayser (@247HSHoops) April 13, 2025
With one year remaining, Brewer took the smart route of leaving town. With that, time to improve his draft stock and leave college basketball with a winning season awaits. Ideally, the move helps both parties. FIU needs a serious infusion of talent, while Brewer gets to check his worth on the open market.
Who is Jayden Brewer?
Initially a three-star commit from Avon, Ind., Brewer spurned Cleveland State and IUPUI to head down to Boca Raton, Fla. During his first 52 games as a Panther, the six-foot-six, 160-pound guard started just one game. At that time, FIU viewed the senior as an instant offense, entering the game and then trying to fire as many shots as possible.
Meanwhile, Brewer focuses on the mid-range game and slashing to the rim. He used a quick first step, especially in transition, where he uses long strides to make up ground. On the other hand, the transfer’s ball control is not very good (1.0:1.1) to assist the turnover ratio. Under those circumstances, he needs just to swing the ball and finish instead of facilitation.
New Day at UNLV
When Kevin Kruger departed the desert, the once-famous UNLV Runnin’ Rebels needed something new; since Dave Rice left town a dozen or so years ago, the Rebels failed to capture any semblance of former glory.
Now, Josh Pastner steps into the big chair, looking to resurrect this sagging program. Josh Pastner, the former Memphis and Georgia Tech head coach, is looking to revive his career. Pastner brings a hunger to UNLV. Whether it’s an opportunity to change the perception or get back on the bench, he detailed this to Sports Illustrated writer Mark Morales-Smith:
“I want everybody to understand that this will not be about me and a few players. This will be the whole city getting back involved and getting everybody to come (to games) to help build the program back to where we want to get—back to NCAA tournaments and winning championships. That’s what we want to do. Absolutely.”
“And so, in my mind, I had always felt like this was a dream job, like the ultimate job … This is going to be our team. This has to be Las Vegas’ team.”
That brings the fanbase to attention. If you are of a certain age, you remember the Larry Johnson-led Rebels that won a national championship in 1990. It was more than just a singular event; it was a vibe and a move, a confidence that helped in recruiting.
Role, Expectations, and New Teammates
In Las Vegas, Brewer will need just to play his game. Ignore the three-pointers and just run, pick up the pace. At 160 pounds, playing the physical part of the game just does not work. Aggressive cuts and finishing will be his call to action. Meanwhile, Pastner will field a far better team than Kevin Kruger did in the past few seasons.
Combo guard Al Green (Louisiana Tech) brings a deft shooting touch to the backcourt. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (Illinois) will challenge for the starting point guard spot, bringing Big Ten playing experience and quick feet to Nevada-Las Vegas. Redshirt freshman center Emmanuel Stephen (Arizona) is an agile big that will only get better, hopefully adding offense to his shot-blocking foundation.
KEEP READING: Journeyman Dior Johnson, Seeking His 14th School Since HS, Enters the Transfer portal: 5 Possible Landing Spots
Brewer will find a home in Las Vegas. He doesn’t have to shoulder the burden of serving as the primary offensive threat at UNLV. Vegas offers the former FIU scorer a chance to thrive in a system that will only emphasize his positives.
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