Bayno signs final recruit

Steve Addy

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

The Rebels likely wrapped up their 2000 recruiting class Thursday by signing junior college shooting guard Jermaine Lewis to an NCAA letter of intent, giving them four recruits for next season.

Lewis (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) is coming off a second-team Junior College All-America season at Kilgore JC in Tyler, Texas. Kilgore sent Trevor Diggs to UNLV last season, and Lewis is likely to battle him for playing time.

The Rebels previously signed point guard Lafonte Johnson from Crispus Attucks Prep in York, Pa., shooting guard Steve Scoggin of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei HS, and wing forward Omari Pearson, also from Crispus Attucks. Johnson's letter of intent arrived Thursday, and Scoggin's is in the mail. Pearson signed in November.

Lewis said he has signed his letter and it is awaiting his mother's signature. Until its delivery to UNLV, coach Bill Bayno is prohibited from commenting.

"I think I have a good future (at UNLV)," Lewis said Thursday night in a phone interview. "On my visit (last week), I had a pretty good time. I like the coaches, and I met most of the players. I went to the team banquet."

This past season, Lewis was the MVP of JC Region 14 after averaging 26.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and shooting 47 percent from the field. He hit 36.4 percent of his 3-pointers (111-of-305), and that will likely be his forte at UNLV. The Rebels were not a strong perimeter shooting team last season, despite ranking seventh in the nation with 82.2 points per game.

"Shooting is my strength," Lewis said. "I probably need to work on defense the most."

Lewis also made visits to New Mexico and Wyoming. He took an unofficial visit to Texas Christian, but canceled an official visit there this week.

Lewis is taking summer classes at Kilgore but said he fully expects to complete his two-year degree and be eligible next season.