JC star expected to join Rebels

Steve Carp

Monday, March 8, 1999 | 11:08 a.m.

It may be too late to do anything for this year, but UNLV is on the verge of taking a major step toward bolstering its backcourt for next season.

The Rebels are expected to receive a verbal commitment from combo guard Trevor Diggs of Kilgore (Texas) Junior College as early as Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Brooklyn, N.Y., is participating in the Texas State JC championships and as soon as the tournament concludes today, a formal announcement will be made.

The late signing period begins April 7.

Diggs, who played at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn and Milford Academy in Connecticut, has been hotly pursued by several East Coast powers, including Providence, Rutgers, Massachusetts and Seton Hall.

An all-conference performer for two straight years, Diggs has helped lead Kilgore to a spot in the top-20 JC poll.

Coach Bill Bayno confirmed UNLV is recruiting Diggs but could not comment further because of NCAA rules.

Jerry Mullin, who runs a JC scouting service out of Olathe, Kan., said UNLV would be getting a big-time player in Diggs.

"He can play at any level," Mullins said. "He's very quick and athletic and he shoots the ball with range and he can also put it on the floor. He's one of the better two guards available. I've never seen him play the point because they have a couple of pretty good point guards at Kilgore. But his ball-handling skills are pretty good. He probably could play the point if he had to."