MISSISSAUGA – Jalen Poyser will be in familiar surroundings next year in his freshman season at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

For one thing, the Malton native will be joining UNLV assistant coach Todd Simon, who coached Poyser at Findlay Prep, a high school in Henderson, Nevada two years ago.

"When I was going through picking a college, one of the main things was being able to trust the coach," said Poyser, who returned home to play at newly formed Orangeville prep for the 2013-14 school year.

"Because I already have a great relationship with him, I know he'll have my back 24/7. I'm going into a great opportunity where I'll be able to play up to 30 minutes a game and (potentially) start at the point guard position."

"I'm going into a great opportunity where I'll be able to play up to 30 minutes a game and (potentially) start at the point guard position."

Jalen Poyser

Poyser, a former Brampton Warriors player, committed to UNLV in November and he's excited about the team's latest acquisitions, including Tyrell Bellot-Green, a friend of his from Mississauga who committed on Monday while fellow Canadian Justin Jackson is part of the five-player freshman class as well.

"A lot of Canadians have done great things at that school like (2013 first overall NBA Draft pick) Anthony Bennett and Khem Birch," said Poyser.

"Now we have three more Canadians going into the school with Justin Jackson, Tyrell Bellot-Green (and myself). The pipeline is good and they really take care of their Canadians."

Last month, Poyser was one of 24 high school players selected to play in the inaugural BioSteel All-Canadian game in Toronto. He scored 21 points to earn Team MVP honours and also won the slam dunk competition.

After his Grade 10 season at perennial powerhouse Father Henry Carr in Etobicoke, Poyser joined Findlay Prep, another powerhouse with multiple U.S. national championships to its name.

A year later, Orangeville Prep was formed, giving Canada's top high school players an opportunity to come home and receive a similar amount of training and exposure they would have garnered had they remained in the states.