Top golf recruit commits to UNLV

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 10:49 a.m.

James Oh, the second-ranked junior amateur in the nation, has verbally committed to attend UNLV and play golf for Dwaine Knight's Rebels next fall.

Oh was considered one of the nation's most prized recruits this fall after advancing to the quarterfinals in both the U.S. Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship this summer.

Oh, a senior at Lakewood (Calif.) High School, selected UNLV over UCLA, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. He said he would sign his letter of intent next month.

"I think it was a pretty easy decision if you look at the program they have for golf and different things they have to offer," Oh said. "They have a great golf program. It's just unbelievable, the support of the community, the head coach and his assistant -- I like them a lot, they're great.

"The guys on the team were awesome and they're all real good players. UNLV has a winning tradition and a good reputation. All those things went into my decision."

Oh said he was particularly impressed with the facilities and support personnel the UNLV golf program has at its disposal, including the Keith Kleven Institute of Orthopaedics, Sports and Dance Rehabilitation; sport psychologist Dr. Jay Brunza; and access to virtually every golf course in the Valley.

"It's got to be one of the best programs in the country," Oh said. "Being able to work out with Keith Kleven, and (play at) Shadow Creek, that's pretty nice.

"It's like a different place -- it's a whole new world. I think it was head and shoulders above the rest of the (programs)."

Oh, who won the 1998 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, said he will come to UNLV with a lofty goal.

"Definitely, I want to play right away." he said. "I'm playing pretty well right now and if I keep it up and get to school, I'm pretty confident of making the team. That is my goal, to play every tournament, every year."

In addition to advancing to the quarterfinals of both the U.S. Amateur and Public Links Championship, Oh won the American Junior Golf Association's Rolex Tournament of Champions in Ohio this summer and was named to the AJGA High School All-American first team.

Oh is No. 2 in the nation in the Golfweek/Titleist Amateur Boys Rankings. He is not related to former UNLV golfer Ted Oh, who turned professional after his sophomore season in 1997.

College coaches are forbidden by NCAA rules from discussing potential recruits until they have signed a letter of intent, so Knight would not comment on Oh's verbal commitment.