LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
By Korey Blucas, UNLV Athletics Communications - UNLV men's basketball head coach Dave Rice and his coaching staff have brought in multiple top recruiting classes over their four-plus years leading the Runnin' Rebels. Each class has featured heralded recruits from all across the nation and Canada.

The latest group of newcomers, which has been ranked No. 11 in the nation by Rivals, includes one guy who has a skill set that is just a little different than most of the other top players that have made their way to Las Vegas.

Derrick Jones Jr., who hails from Chester, Pa., and attended Archbishop John Carroll High School, was rated the fourth-best small forward in the nation in the class of 2015 and was a four-star recruit. He is obviously an extremely talented player, but there is something else that has earned him a lot of attention not only in Las Vegas, but also around the country: his breath-taking leaping and dunking ability.

Rated as the best dunker in his class by ESPN, Jones Jr. displayed his dunking skills all across the nation while in high school, in AAU play and in high-profile dunk contests. He has captured the title of most every dunk contest he has competed in â€" including UNLV's own during the Runnin' Rebel Madness event in October â€" and has thrown down incredible acrobatic and monstrous dunks during games. Nobody has disagreed with Jones Jr. declaring himself the best high school dunker and he is at the top or nearly there on most national lists of the top dunkers in college.

"The dunks that I have done, I haven't seen many other guys doing them," said Jones Jr. "That's why I choose the dunks that I do in the contests."

Most Runnin' Rebel fans were familiar with Jones Jr.'s dunking exploits courtesy of the many YouTube videos showing off his skills, but the first opportunity to see the show he puts on in person was Oct. 22 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Coming off an ankle injury where he was doubtful to even compete, he stole the show right away with his first dunk in which he soared over 6-foot-9-inch Ben Carter, Austin Starr and 7-footer Stephen Zimmerman Jr. He defeated Ike Nwamu in the finals of that event and generated instant buzz from media all over the country. In fact, his winning dunk was shown throughout the next few days on ESPN.

"It was a great experience for our team to go downtown and be able to put on a show like that for the fans that came out to support us," said Jones Jr. "We knew we had to do something special because that's what the fans came to see."

Jones Jr. says his first-ever dunk came after completing the seventh grade, and he started regularly dunking in games in the ninth grade. Although a quiet, reserved person off the court, on the court he has not been afraid to pull off other stylish dunks.

"I started doing windmills, putting it between my legs, it all has just come naturally to me," he said.

Jones Jr., however, is more than just a dunker and he wants people to know he doesn't want to be viewed as a one-dimensional player on the court. He is looking to help the Runnin' Rebels during his freshman year in any way he can.

"I can also bring energy and defense," Jones Jr. said "If my coaches and teammates need a stop, I hope to be able to get that stop for them. I will have my teammates' backs and I know they will have mine. I'm going to try to be that player who has defensive intensity and energy. I just try to give it my all to help the team win."

The Runnin' Rebel coaching staff values all that Jones Jr. brings to the team. "We are excited to have Derrick in our program," Rice said. "He is obviously very talented but he is also a great teammate and is extremely coachable."

When asked about his personal goals, Jones Jr. obviously has hopes to play in the NBA some day. But right now he isn't focused on that. "I just want to help our team win games and be successful," he said. "We want to do big things."

Jones Jr. looks to continue the basketball legacy that others from his hometown of Chester has produced, such as Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Bo Ryan and current NBA rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. The area has helped shaped the person and player he has become.

"Where I'm from you have to come out tough and play hard every day," said Jones Jr. "My parents told me, 'go out every day and give it 110 percent.' That's what I've been doing since day one. I'm just going to keep playing hard, which is what I have learned growing up there."

Jones Jr. hopes Runnin' Rebel fans are able to see all the hard work he has and continues to put into his game. And fans from other parts of the country should be tuning in nightly to ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays. They may just catch a glimpse of some of his incredible jaw-dropping dunks this season.