New Zealander joins Rebels

Steve Carp

Tuesday, April 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

UNLV's hope of solidifying its point guard situation has taken a downward step.

Down Under, that is.

The Rebels will give 19-year-old New Zealander Mark Dickel a chance to run the show in the backcourt next season. Dickel confirmed Monday he will sign a national letter of intent to play for Bill Bayno.

UNLV also is expected to sign Fred Williams, a 6-foot-7 forward from Spartanburg Methodist Community College in South Carolina, on Wednesday.

Williams, who can play either forward spot, is rated among the top five JC forwards in the nation, along with Vincennes (Ind.) University's Tyrone Nesby, who also is planning to sign with UNLV Wednesday, and Tyler (Texas) JC guard Corky Ausborne.

Dickel, who hails from the town of Dunedin, still has to qualify academically by passing either the SAT or ACT entrance exam.

With the addition of Dickel and Williams, UNLV's 1996 recruiting class numbers seven. The Rebels signed 6-11 forward Keon Clark, 6-9 center Issiah Epps and 6-5 swingman Donovan Stewart during the early signing period in November.

UNLV still is in the running for the services of Shamel Jones, a 6-8 forward from Paul Robeson High in Brooklyn. Jones also is considering Georgetown, but is not expected to sign right away. He may visit UNLV later this month.

The signing period runs from Wednesday through May 15.

Reached in Australia, the 6-1 Dickel said the opportunity to play in the United States for a high-profile program made it an easy decision to commit to UNLV.

"In New Zealand, you can only go so far," he said. "I see America as a place for me to get better.

"I've never been to Las Vegas, but I've heard a lot about it. It's a great town and there's always a lot going on. I think it's going to be OK."

Bayno is the only coach on UNLV's staff to have seen Dickel play in person. He spent a couple of days in Australia last month evaluating him.

NCAA rules prohibit Bayno from commenting about any recruit until he has received the letter of intent.

Dickel connected with UNLV in a roundabout way. It started with Brian Goorjian, who coaches the Melbourne Tigers of the Australian first division. Goorjian's brother Greg played at UNLV and his father Ed was a Rebels assistant coach.

Goorjian is friends with Bill Paulos, president of Primadonna Resorts, Inc., who helped build a casino while living in Melbourne. Paulos, also friends with Bayno, told the UNLV coach about Dickel.

After talking to Goorjian and others who had seen Dickel play with a touring team from New Zealand last fall and then watching Dickel on tape, Bayno headed Down Under to see for himself.

Dickel, scheduled to participate in an all-star game April 21 in Charlotte, N.C., as a member of an international prep squad against a team of prep All-Americans, is confident he can compete at the U.S. collegiate level.

"I believe so," he said. "I don't see myself as a star right away, but I think I can fit my game in with the others and help the team.

"But it's an ideal situation, isn't it? To come to America and get a chance to play for one of the great college teams over there. I'm very excited about it."

Goorjian, who has had Dickel training with the Tigers the past three weeks, agrees.

"Being in New Zealand, he hasn't had the opportunities the kids in the States have to develop their game," he said. "He hasn't had the exposure to that environment. But he has the potential to be a good guard.

"UNLV's weakness is his strength. They need someone who knows the game and can get the ball to the right people on the floor. He's a real tough kid with a great knowledge of the game."

Goorjian said Dickel will be well received in Las Vegas.

"He'll be a breath of fresh air," he said. "He goes a hundred miles an hour and he wants to be the best. He'll have no problem fitting in."