LAS VEGAS - (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's soccer team will have one of the more noteworthy signees in years for the Rebel program as Las Vegas native Lateef Omidiji Jr., a member of numerous international teams, has signed a national letter of intent to play for UNLV, head coach Rich Ryerson announced on Wednesday.

"Lateef, a local Las Vegas product, will bring international pedigree to our team at both the International Club and National team levels," said Ryerson. "He is a former Nigerian and U.S. youth National team member, and experienced player of the youth program with Dutch Powerhouse Feyenoord. He will bring dynamic speed into our attack in the wide areas of the field and we expect him to tally points for us as a Rebel."

"My goal in coming to UNLV is to bring championships to the team," said Omidiji. "Coach Ryerson and his assistant coaches are as good as they come, they have done a fantastic job in recruiting and building a strong team. I believe our team will be a force to reckon with for the coming years both in our conference and nationally.

I am very confident that both my background in playing Academy football in Europe and with the National team with Nigeria has prepared me for success. I'm looking forward to developing further under the coaches at UNLV and making an immediate impact on the team. I did have offers from other colleges, but the fantastic coaching staff at UNLV, their vision and plan for the future of the program were the primary reasons I will be a Rebel next year. I was born here, raised here, I want to win for my hometown and bring glory to my city."

Omidiji, a 5-11 forward, was born in Las Vegas but has dual American and Nigerian citizenship. That has allowed him to play for both the US and Nigeria youth national teams, first starting in 2016 when he was called up to the US U-14 national team. Two years later in 2018, Omidiji Jr was selected to the Nigerian U-15 National Team, becoming the first foreign-born player to represent Nigeria at the national youth levels. At the 2018 African Youth Games that was held in Algiers, Algeria, he led the team in goals, assists and points. He then lived in Nigeria in 2019 when he was called up to the U-17 National Team in February of 2019 and was with the team during their qualifying and run-up to the 2019 U18 World Cup.

His international experience began at Dordrecht FC U14 at the age of 12, where he led the Dutch Youth System in both scoring and assists. From there he went to the Feyenoord Rotterdam Academy in the Netherlands in 2017 at the age of 13. Following his time with the U-17 Nigerian Team, Omidiji returned to the Netherlands to play for the Go Ahead Eagles club over the first half of 2020. He attended high school at Etty Hillesum Lyceum in the Netherlands before returning to his hometown for his senior year, as he will graduate from Sierra Vista HS in the spring of 2021.