Iwuakor giving huge effort
Numbers don’t tell true story of his value
UNLV senior Victor Iwuakor doesn’t always fill the stat sheet.
Now entering his second season in Las Vegas after transferring from Oklahoma, the 6-foot-7-inch forward from Abuja, Nigeria, is only averaging 2.6 points and four rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game. He’s scored 13 points in 76 minutes this season.
Despite his meager statistical output, Iwuakor has been a major contributor to UNLV’S 5-0 start. Monday’s 56-49 win over Southern Illinois was just another chance for him to show why he remains among coach Kevin Kruger’s most trusted players.
“Vic is unique,” Kruger said of his ability to defend equally well both inside and on the perimter. “He’s as athletic as they come.”
Monday, Iwuakor was his usual disruptive self. He led the Rebels with six rebounds, scored two points and grabbed a steal to help UNLV win its opening game of the Socal Challenge.
Iwuakor and the Rebels play their final game of the Socal Challenge at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. UNLV will play Minnesota (4-1) in San Juan Capistrano, California.
“We play college basketball,” Iwuakor said. “You’ve got to be ready at any time, so I just try to stay ready whenever my name is called.”
Kruger substituted Iwuakor into the game with 7:26 remaining and the Rebels trailing 45-44. Less than a minute later, Iwuakor had a steal. By the time Kruger took him out, with 24 seconds remaining, UNLV led 54-49.
Southern Illinois scored four points during the seven-minute stretch Iwuakor was on the court.
Iwuakor did everything the Rebels needed. He was active in passing lanes, harried big men in the post and was the first player on the floor, forcing multiple jump balls. He fought for offensive rebounds, despite often being the only Rebel crashing the boards.
However, Iwuakor’s biggest value is his versatility on defense. He’s usually the only Rebel on the court listed 6-foot-7 or taller when he’s in the game, and for the stretches he plays without UNLV senior Luis Rodriguez,
Iwuakor is sometimes the only Rebel taller than 6-foot-4.
His athleticism and determination also let him switch on defense without consequence, preventing smaller guards from blowing past him.
“He’s a willing defender,” guard EJ Harkless said. “He’s a willing teammate. He keeps everybody engaged. He keeps high energy.”
Those traits are some of the same ones which made Iwuakor a crucial part of last season’s team. Iwuakor battled shoulder injuries for most of the 2021-22 season but started UNLV’S final five games, which included wins against Colorado State, Wyoming and UNR.
However, injuries forced Iwuakor to miss UNLV’S Mountain West Tournament game — a three-point loss to a Wyoming team Iwuakor had helped the Rebels beat by seven points eight days earlier.
Senior guard Justin Webster still believes UNLV would have advanced further in the tournament if Iwuakor had been healthy enough to play.
Iwuakor can’t go back in time and rejoin the 2021-22 Rebels, but now fully healthy, he’s already proving he can be that same, impactful player UNLV needs going forward.
“I’m feeling good,” he said.