UNLV recruit Diggs sees NCAA Tournament berth in his future

Steve Carp

Monday, April 12, 1999 | 10:09 a.m.

Trevor Diggs isn't coming to UNLV to be a savior. But he does think he can help the Rebels get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Diggs, who signed with UNLV last week to become the second member of the 1999 recruiting class, joined Dalron Johnson, a 6-foot-8 forward from Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles, in Bill Bayno's program.

And more help may be on the way. Lou Kelly, a 6-5 swingman from San Bernardino Valley (Calif.) Community College, and Danny Walker, a 6-1 guard from Compton (Calif.) College, were said to have had good visits to UNLV over the weekend. Their national letters of intent may be forthcoming this week.

Diggs said he was excited about the prospects of playing with the other recruits and those already in the program.

"They've got some guys there who can play," the 6-3 guard from Kilgore (Texas) College said. "Shawn Marion's a pro.

"I'm not looking to come in and be the man or anything. I just want to fit in with the other guys."

That's not to say Diggs won't make an impact. The Rebels are lacking offense from the perimeter and they need someone who can create opportunities -- not just for his teammates, but for himself.

Diggs, who has been used primarily as an off-guard at Kilgore, can get his own shot.

"That's one of my strengths, being able to create," he said. "Scoring is not a problem for me. I've always been a good shooter."

Diggs averaged just under 19 points last season and shot 42 percent from the 3-point arc. At the foul line, he led his league, the Texas Eastern Conference, hitting at an 87 percent clip.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native said he has long thought about coming to UNLV. He was a partial qualifier in high school after attending Bishop Ford in Brooklyn and Milford Academy in Connecticut. But two years of JC ball helped maintain his basketball education and not having to sit out appears to have been a big boost.

"I didn't want to do that," he said of waiting a season as a Prop 48 candidate. "Going to JC was the best move I could've made."

He's convinced coming to Las Vegas is just as good a move. He's not worried about the NCAA's pending investigation into the program and the fact that Desmond Herod and Greedy Daniels are leaving the team.

"It probably opens up some minutes for everyone," Diggs said. "I'm not even thinking about any of that. I'm coming to UNLV because that's where I think I need to be.

"I thought it was important for me to be far away from home. There's fewer distractions when you're away."