UNLV wins top prep prize

Steve Carp

Monday, April 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

It was college basketball's version of Megabucks. And this time the big money stayed with the locals instead of the tourists.

Lamar Odom, the top prep recruit in the nation, announced Sunday that he will play for Bill Bayno and UNLV rather than Rick Pitino and Kentucky or Jim Calhoun and Connecticut.

Odom, a 6-foot-9 forward from New York, made his announcement at the Magic Johnson Roundball Classic in Auburn Hills, Mich.

"I woke up this morning and decided it was UNLV," Odom said prior to Sunday's game, where he had three points, five assists and six rebounds for the East team in its 124-106 loss to the West and fellow Rebel recruit Edwin "Greedy" Daniels.

"For me, it was a no-lose situation. All of them are great universities."

Odom, who had signed a national letter of intent with the Rebels in November but never mailed it, is expected to sign a new letter Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period. He will become the highest-profile recruit to attend UNLV since Larry Johnson transferred from Odessa (Texas) Junior College in 1989.

A McDonald's All-American who played in that annual game last week in Colorado Springs, Odom becomes the third UNLV recruit to achieve such status, joining Johnson and Freddie Banks. He will join what is developing into one of the nation's top recruiting classes.

That class includes Daniels, a 6-2 point guard who led Cohen High School in New Orleans to back-to-back Louisiana state titles; Javares Anderson, a 6-10 power forward from Gulf Coast Junior College in Panama City, Fla.; and redshirts Issiah Epps, a 6-10 forward from Maine Central Institute and Brian Keefe, a 6-3 shooting guard who transferred from Boston College and UC Irvine.

In addition, the Rebels have 6-8 redshirt forward Kevin Simmons and 6-4 freshman redshirt swingman Donovan Stewart waiting to return to the floor this fall.

Odom, who can play virtually anywhere on the floor, will likely play at the off-guard and small forward spots for the Rebels and might even see a little time at the point in a pinch.

NCAA rules prevent Bayno from commenting about Odom.

When asked what turned the tide in UNLV's favor, Odom said: "I have a great relationship with the coaches there. And because of the up-and-down game UNLV plays, their style."

There had been much speculation leading into the weekend that Odom was going to bypass college and join fellow prep star Tracy McGrady in the NBA. But Odom began leaning toward college when word got out that had he gone pro, he would not have been selected in the lottery phase (first 13 picks).

"I was flattered just to be talked about in that vein," he said of the pros. "But I'm just not ready for that level right now."

It has been quite an odyssey for the 17-year-old from Queens who attended three schools this year.

Odom began the year at Christ The King, transferred to Redemption Christian Academy in upstate New York in October, then moved on to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Conn., in late February. In between, he managed to average 21 points and 12 rebounds at Redemption.

He is finishing his core courses to graduate and become eligible to play at UNLV. Jerry DeGregorio, the coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, said Odom is on track to graduate. He already has passed the ACT standardized test.

"He's doing well," DeGregorio said. "He's a wonderful person. Very charismatic. He's a bright, intelligent young man."

During his recruitment, Odom developed a friendship with UNLV assistant Greg Vetrone. Vetrone, a Queens native, also attended Christ The King and a trust between the two ensued.

While UNLV was active in its recruitment of Odom from the beginning, Kentucky didn't get involved until early last fall. Many believed that with Wildcats coach Rick Pitino staying and Ron Mercer leaving, Odom would have a spot at Lexington.

Sources close to Odom said his aunt, JaNean Mercer, was pushing for Kentucky while Odom was leaning toward UNLV. In the end, it was Odom's decision.

"I didn't tell anyone where I was going until today," he said. "But I talked it over with my aunt, my grandmother (Mildred Mercer) and my AAU coach (Gary Charles) and we came to the decision."

While many were shocked that Odom turned down Kentucky and UConn for UNLV, DeGregorio wasn't surprised by Odom's choice.

"I think Vegas was at or near the top all along," he said. "Coach Bayno and Coach Vetrone did a tremendous job recruiting Lamar and I think it ultimately came down to his relationship with Bayno and Shoes (Vetrone). He has tremendous respect for them."