Odom’s mysterious whereabouts? Vegas

Steve Carp

Monday, Dec. 22, 1997 | 11:51 a.m.

When UNLV visited Rhode Island a week ago, there was much speculation as to the whereabouts of Lamar Odom.

The 6-foot-9 prep star was supposed to be in New York tending to his sick grandmother. Other reports had him back in Rhode Island where he was supposedly studying for final exams.

Turns out neither account was accurate. Odom apparently was right here in Las Vegas.

Odom visited with UNLV redshirt Javares Anderson while the Rebels and Rams battled in Providence. Which is why he never met with NCAA officials nor attended the Dec. 13 game.

The Providence Journal-Bulletin reported over the weekend that Odom left Rhode Island (where he was a non-matriculating student) Dec. 9 and hasn't been seen since. Finals were last week and Odom was supposedly a no-show.

It probably means Odom's chances of playing for Jim Harrick are nil. He not only needed to pass his four classes with a grade-point average of 2.4 or higher to be admitted full-time, he also needed to have a passing score on his Scholastic Aptitude Test which he took Dec. 6. And he would still need to be granted a waiver on the national letter of intent he signed with UNLV.

An announcement from Rhode Island regarding Odom could come today. The Rams host Ohio tonight and the hope was Odom would make his URI debut against Ohio.

That will not happen. In fact, it's more likely Odom will never play Division I college basketball.

He could still play professionally overseas or possibly in the Continental Basketball Association, though its unknown if the CBA's offer of a $100,000 contract for the season (where Odom could pick his team) is still on the table.

Siebrandt looks to future

Matt Siebrandt, UNLV's 6-7 signee, said he's trying to juggle his career at Galena High with the future. And it's not easy.

Galena, which is in town for the Reebok Holiday Prep Classic, needs Siebrandt near the basket. UNLV sees him as a small forward, though coach Bill Bayno said the left-hander also will play power forward.

"Right now, my role is to play down low and bang and get inside shots," Siebrandt said. "But I know my future is on the outside."

Siebrandt and coach Tom Maurer made a deal. He'll devote his energies to helping the Grizzlies get back to the state playoffs. Once the high school season is over, he'll work on his outside shooting and focus on playing small forward.

In Galena's 90-64 win over Rangeview of Aurora, Colo., Siebrandt scored 17 points and grabbed three rebounds in just 16 minutes. Galena meets Pleasure Ridge Park today at Durango High.

"It's going pretty good,' Siebrandt said of his season. He's averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds for 8-2 Galena. "I don't think I'm playing to my potential. I want to show everyone I'm a good player and show what I can really do."

Iowa State in Shootout?

Next year's Las Vegas Shootout may have a Midwestern flavor. Cincinnati already is committed to playing UNLV and Creative Sports, which puts on the event, is trying to bring Iowa State to Las Vegas.

The Cyclones travel well and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority likes the idea of sending the town's message to Middle America.

"We're talking to them," said Pete Derzis of Creative Sports regarding Iowa State. "I think they'd be terrific to have here."

Creative Sports is looking at a team from the East or from the South as a possible opponent for Iowa State if the Cyclones agree to come to Las Vegas.

A crowd of 13,146 showed up at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday for the doubleheader which saw Syracuse defeat UNLV 71-64 and Massachusetts beat Colorado 79-68.