UNLV basketball coach Josh Pastner stepped into the Coronado High School gymnasium Wednesday afternoon, his eyes immediately drawn to the court where one of Nevada’s premier prep programs was deep in practice.

Coronado boasts two coveted prospects who already hold scholarship offers from the first-year UNLV coach — and both players were putting on a clinic that afternoon.

Forward Munir Greig, ranked as the nation’s No. 29 recruit in the Class of 2027 by 247 Sports, and forward Devaughn Dorrough, the No. 24 prospect for the Class of 2028 by Rivals, made their case with every possession.

The duo slashed to the rim with ease, throwing down thunderous dunks before seamlessly transitioning to the perimeter. On the next sequence, one of the players stepped beyond the arc and buried a 3-pointer — nothing but net.

The display made it clear why Pastner chose Coronado for his first local recruiting visit of the new NCAA calendar period. When the prospects stepped off the court during a break, both players made their way over to greet the coach — a sign of mutual respect that didn’t go unnoticed.

The coach also made a stop at two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman, maximizing his opportunities on the first day NCAA rules permitted him to visit high school campuses. Junior Kameron Cooper, a key cog in Gorman’s state title teams and a top-100 recruit, also has a scholarship offer.

For Pastner, building relationships with Nevada’s top talent represents a crucial foundation as he works to establish his program’s recruiting footprint in his inaugural season.

Having local players lead the way has certainly worked for the Rebels before.

Take 1990, when Rancho High graduate Greg Anthony was the point guard on UNLV’s national championship team, or 1987, when Valley High product Freddie Banks led the program to the Final Four.

Don’t forget Anthony Marshall, the Mojave graduate who in four seasons helped the Rebels make four straight NCAA Tournament appearances through 2013. They haven’t been back since, and haven’t won a tournament game since 2008 — something Pastner is vowing to remedy.

Since taking over in the spring, Pastner has been on a mission to become one of us. He’s spoken at community events, attended rallies and asked fans to email with feedback. He checks those messages personally and vows to return them all.

His energy is unmatched.

Coronado coach Jeff Kaufman tells a story of getting a call from Pastner in the wee hours of the morning when most of us are going to bed — the coach was already starting his day, focused on rebuilding the UNLV roster.

Other UNLV coaches have prioritized recruiting locally, and some have found success securing top talent. Kevin Kruger, Pastner’s predecessor, was constantly at Liberty High School pursuing top-25 recruit DJ Thomas, who ultimately joined the program and became its best player over the past two years.

Pastner knows he needs to do better — which is why his appearance at Coronado and Gorman represents more than a symbolic gesture. Mason Abittan, who graduated from Coronado in May, was part of Pastner’s initial recruiting class — he initially committed to Kruger and was reoffered by Pastner.

The coach isn’t simply going through the motions to develop relationships with local high schools and their players. Rather, he recognizes they have the talent who could be the difference in the Rebels’ rebirth. And he knows having locals on the roster would help in the quest to bring crowds back to the Thomas & Mack Center on game day.

Coronado and Gorman are two of the region’s elite programs, traveling the nation to play in showcase events and with rosters dominated by top recruits.

Both programs have sent players to the NBA and top-level college programs, making them essential pipelines for any UNLV coach serious about restoring the program’s championship aspirations.

“It’s cool to get to play in front of him,” says Dorrough, who also has offers from the likes of USC, Washington and Cal.

It won’t be the last time they see Pastner.

The best part about having top-tier talent in the valley is that UNLV is just a quick drive away. Even the state tournament is contested on the UNLV campus.

That means Pastner’s cameo on the initial day of recruiting will be more than a one-time visit. If we’ve learned anything about the coach in these initial months, it’s that he’s relentless in pursuing his vision.

Let’s see how that plays out on the local recruiting trail. And in the win column.