Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 | 5:14 p.m.
UNLV coach Lon Kruger received signed national letters of intent from two of his three 2009 hoops commitments Thursday.
Wednesday started the weeklong early-signing period.
Justin Hawkins, a 6-2, 170-pound guard from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High, inked his letter of intent earlier in the day on Wednesday at school.
"It's official," he said. "Now I just really feel a part of the family. I know that whatever success they have, I'm a part of it since I'm part of the program."
Kruger cannot talk about recruits until he receives their commitment papers, signed by them and their parents or guardians.
Hawkins averaged 14 points a game last season, when he shot 51.4 percent from the field, including 35.3 percent from 3-point range, for 27-4 Taft.
"Justin has had an outstanding high school career at Taft," Kruger said. "He will bring very good basketball instincts as well as athleticism to our program. He is a combo guard that will add ability and versatility."
Anthony Marshall, a 6-3, 185-pound lefty guard at Mojave High, checks in at No. 58 on the Rivals national chart for 2009. He said he plans on signing his letter at Mojave early Thursday morning with his parents present.
He averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists for the 25-2 Rattlers last season.
"Anthony has also had a terrific high school career at Mojave and we are thrilled that he has decided to continue his collegiate career at home in Las Vegas," Kruger said. "He is a very versatile, athletic wing that can pressure the ball with the best of defenders."
The national letter of intent bearing the signature of Carlos Lopez’s mother will take a few days. Findlay College Prep coach Mike Peck said it was overnighted, via Fed Ex, to her in Puerto Rico late Wednesday morning.
Lopez (6-10, 225) was tabbed as a three-star national figure by Rivals, with a No. 108 national rating. “Skilled big man with a Euro-style game,” Rivals wrote.
Texas and Illinois had press conferences Wednesday afternoon to highlight their next recruiting classes that include Findlay players.
Peck had just prepared the final paperwork for guards Avery Bradley, who will be a Longhorn, and D.J. Richardson, an Illinois native who will play for the Illini next season.
Bradley, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound threat on the wing, is listed as the No. 8 national prospect in his class and a five-star athlete by the recruiting service Rivals.com.
Richardson (6-3, 170) was given four stars and the No. 57 national ranking by Rivals.
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