Kelly ready to become a Rebel

Victoria Sun

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 10:29 a.m.

It all comes down to dollars and cents.

Sometime today, Lou Kelly will call Federal Express to determine if it's worth it to air mail a letter to the UNLV men's basketball office and have it arrive before he would be able to hand-deliver it on Saturday when he steps off a plane in Las Vegas for a visit.

"I'm bringing it up if it costs more than $20," he said with a chuckle over the phone.

On Wednesday, Kelly and Omari Pearson out of Crispus Attucks Charter School in York, Penn., both signed letters of intent to play basketball for the Rebels.

Kelly played a year at San Bernardino Valley College and will enroll at UNLV in mid-December while Pearson will join the team next fall.

Kelly originally signed a letter of intent in April to attend UNLV in the fall, but because of what he called a "mix-up with some paper work," was forced to re-sign and sit out until mid-December when he will be eligible to play on Dec. 18.

"At first I was frustrated," Kelly said. "But then I had things to take care of with my family so I thin it turned out better this way."

Kelly said he has been running on his own, but it will take a few weeks before he gets into basketball shape.

Kelly will stay for UNLV's exhibition game against the California West All-Stars on Monday night. He's looking forward to his visit to get a sense of where the team is and how head coach Bill Bayno's system works.

Already, Kelly knows a few guys on the team. He's played against Rebel forward Chris Poopola and seen Donovan Stewart, forward from Rialto, Calif., play.

"I just want to get in touch with the guys and tell them I support them," Kelly said.

Pearson sent his letter to his grandmother on Wednesday after he signed it to procure her signature and it should be on its way to UNLV.

Per NCAA rules, Bayno is not allowed to comment on any recruits until he receives their letters.

Whether Bayno will ever receive a letter of intent from Caron Butler of Maine Central Institute is a question only Butler can answer.

For weeks now the 6-foot-8 forward has been deliberating whether to attend UNLV and join his former coach, Max Good, now an assistant to Bayno or stay back East to attend the University of Connecticut.

Originally, Butler said he would make his decision by today, but word is he won't say a peep or sign until at least Monday.