Gorman looking to add 6-11 Iti after controversial Calif. case

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 3:13 a.m.

Nevada's best might be on the verge on getting even better.

Bishop Gorman basketball coach Bob Hubbard confirmed Wednesday night that 6-11 center Martin Iti -- the subject of much controversy in California -- has contacted the top-ranked Catholic school about a possible transfer.

"He has contacted our principal with an interest in transferring to our school," Hubbard said. "But we won't do anything that will jeopardize our school or our basketball program."

Iti, along with legal guardian Courtney Rosegreen and former UNLV basketball player Warren Rosegreen, attended Bishop Gorman's win over Modesto Christian (Calif.) Tuesday night. Courtney Rosegreen was back at the Powerade Holiday Prep Classic the following night for the Gaels' semifinal loss to Oak Hill, discussing Iti's situation with Hubbard.

Iti, who came to the United States from Australia in the summer of 1998, has transferred four times since arriving in this country. Most recently, he transferred from Servite High (Calif.), where he averaged 12 points and 7.6 rebounds as a sophomore last season, to Villa Park (Calif.) last April.

Iti's transfer to Villa Park was the subject of a recent investigation by the California Interscholastic Federation, with CIF Executive Director Jack Hayes upholding Villa Park's one-year athletic suspension.

"We'd love to have him; he's obviously a great player," Hubbard said. "But it's all pending the California state and the release there."

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Director Jerry Hughes said that by NIAA rules, athletic suspensions by other states generally carry over when an athlete transfers to a Nevada school.

"Of course, we'll have to find out all the information, but off the top of my head, the difficulty is if he's under penalty in another state, that comes over to our state," Hughes said. "Obviously, we're going to investigate, so it's not fair to say he would be automatically ineligible."

Iti was also in Las Vegas in July 1998, playing for the Durango's Las Vegas Stars and local club team Mad Moves in the adidas Big Time Tournament.