Jackson Kiss - 2026-27 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Jackson Kiss
- Position:
- Forward
- Ht/Wt:
- 6-8 / 235
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- High School:
- Utah Prep Academy
UNLV CAREER
Kiss enters his first season as a Runnin' Rebel in 2026-27 ... Named the 2026-27 Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year ... A 6-foot-8 forward originally from Auckland, New Zealand ... A four-star recruit who played at Utah Prep Academy after moving to the United States ... Averaged 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 14 games during the 2025-26 Nike EYBL Scholastic League season ... Competed internationally for New Zealand at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, helping his country to a fourth-place finish ... Averaged 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists during the international tournament ... Played with Vegas Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit during the summer of 2025 ... Averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds at the 2025 Peach Jam ... A versatile forward with the ability to handle the ball, create scoring opportunities and impact the game at multiple positions ... Signed with UNLV in 2026.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2026 graduate of Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane, Utah ... Played for head coach Mark Dickel ... Competed in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League against some of the nation's top prep basketball programs ... Averaged 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 14 games during the 2025-26 season ... Helped Utah Prep reach the Grind Session playoffs and win the Hilo Classic championship ... Played small forward, power forward and center during his high school career ... A four-star recruit with extensive experience against national and international competition ... Represented New Zealand at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, helping lead the team to a fourth-place finish while averaging 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists ... Also competed with the Auckland Tuatara men's team in New Zealand ... Played AAU basketball with Vegas Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit ... Averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds at the 2025 Peach Jam ... Previously played rugby from ages 4-13, primarily at first five-eighth and fullback.
PERSONAL
Jackson Alan Kiss was born May 26, 2007, in Auckland, New Zealand ... The son of Jeanie Riechelmann and Jack Kiss ... Has two sisters, Charli Kiss and Kayla Aumua ... His uncle, Charles Riechelmann, played rugby for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, as a lock ... Enjoys music, golf and food ... Has aspirations of playing professional rugby if not pursuing a basketball career ... Credits his mother as the biggest influence in his life, saying that watching her raise him and his sisters as a single mother and seeing the challenges she overcame inspired him ... Also credits his grandmother with motivating him to become better ... Chose UNLV because of the opportunity to contribute as a freshman and the interest shown by the coaching staff ... Was also recruited by Iowa State, UConn, Saint Mary's and New Mexico ... Began playing basketball at a park with his cousins.
GETTING TO KNOW JACKSON...
BASKETBALL NICKNAME:Â JKiss
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE:Â Kawhi Leonard
FAVORITE PRO TEAMS:Â Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and New Zealand All Blacks (rugby)
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT AT UNLV:Â Playing mini golf and going out to eat with the team
BIGGEST ATHLETIC THRILL:Â Dunking on someone
BIGGEST THRILL IN LIFE:Â Winning a regional championship back home with my high school team
ATHLETE I ADMIRE MOST & WHY:Â Kawhi Leonard because he overcame a difficult upbringing to become one of the best basketball players while staying true to himself
CURRENT OR FORMER UNLV ATHLETE I ENJOY WATCHING:Â Tyrin Jones
SINCE COMING TO UNLV I HAVE LEARNED:Â The system we play in, to take advantage of small opportunities and to play both sides of the floor like my life depends on it
BEST THING ABOUT UNLV:Â My teammates and the people involved in the program
FAVORITE FOOD:Â Sushi
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD:Â Beans
FAVORITE TV SHOW:Â The Simpsons
IF I COULD INVITE THREE PEOPLE IN HISTORY TO DINNER:Â Kawhi Leonard, Rod Wave and Kobe Bryant
FAVORITE MOVIE:Â The Lion King
IF I DIDN'T PLAY BASKETBALL I WOULD:Â Play rugby
REASON I WEAR MY JERSEY NUMBER:Â I usually wear No. 8 because of my family and God. I'm wearing No. 9 now to represent new beginnings and because my sister had a baby, adding one to eight.
PREGAME SUPERSTITION:Â Take a nap, shower, listen to music and eat
FAVORITE BOOK:Â The Holy Bible
MOST FAMOUS PLAYER I'VE PLAYED WITH:Â AJ Dybantsa
SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME:Â I'm really laid-back and a homebody
FAVORITE BASKETBALL MOVIE:Â Coach Carter
FAVORITE PREGAME MEAL:Â Chicken Alfredo pasta
FAVORITE THING TO DO ON THE ROAD:Â Explore or have fun with teammates
FAVORITE MOUNTAIN WEST CITY:Â Las Vegas
SPORT I WOULD PLAY IF NOT BASKETBALL:Â Rugby
FAVORITE PLACE I'VE VISITED:Â Tonga
PLACE I'D MOST LIKE TO VISIT:Â Japan
DREAM 1-ON-1 MATCHUP:Â Kawhi Leonard
IF I HAD TO GIVE UP ALL BUT ONE POSSESSION, I WOULD KEEP:Â My phone
FAVORITE MUSICIAN:Â Rod Wave
ADVICE TO YOUNGSTERS:Â No matter how lonely or difficult things get, God will always be right there beside you
HOW I STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL:Â At the park with my cousins
PETS GROWING UP:Â A Samoyed dog named Nova
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE MYSELF:Â Own-World
WHO INSPIRES ME TO BE BETTER:Â My nana
FAVORITE COACH PASTNER SAYING:Â "What's up fellas, and Isaac"
SONG THAT PUTS ME IN A GOOD MOOD:Â Stay by Fejoint
FAVORITE APP:Â Viber, because I use it to call and text my family
TOP BUCKET LIST ITEM:Â Travel the world
GO-TO ENERGY SNACK:Â Rice Krispies
CELEBRITY I WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET:Â Rod Wave
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