NCAA probe costs Rebels recruit

Steve Addy

Wednesday, March 29, 2000 | 9:57 a.m.

The possibility of NCAA sanctions against UNLV's basketball program has cost the Rebels a point guard recruit.

Kevin Bradley, a 6-foot, 185-pound prospect from Compton (Calif.) CC, told the Sun he has chosen Utah over UNLV because of the NCAA investigation into alleged rules violations by the Rebels.

"As far as UNLV maybe going on probation, it didn't scare me away, but it kind of put me on my tiptoes," Bradley said in a telephone interview. "I only have two years left, and I don't have a redshirt year, so I can't risk (the team) being on probation."

Bradley made an official recruiting visit to UNLV besides Saint Louis, Arizona State and Utah. He was here March 10-12 for the Mountain West tournament, and saw the Rebels beat Wyoming and BYU and then receive an NCAA Tournament berth. He said he was excited about the prospect of replacing senior Mark Dickel as the Rebels' point guard.

Two days later, UNLV acknowledged receipt of an NCAA letter of inquiry spelling out allegations that ranged from boosters paying recruits to poor oversight of the program by coach Bill Bayno. The university has until May 10 to respond and must go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on June 16-18 at Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Meanwhile, the NCAA spring signing period lasts from April 12 to May 15.

"Even if there's no probation, I can't take the risk of waiting until June to find that out," Bradley said. "If I was to commit to UNLV now and they went on probation, I would be stuck.

"(UNLV) treated me very well on my visit. Coach Bayno and (associate coach Glynn Cyprien) were cool to me. I had fun at the (Mountain West) tournament."

Bradley, who averaged 17 points and nine assists at Compton, visited Utah last weekend and said he notified the Utes' coaching staff he intends to sign there.

Bayno has said he hopes to sign two point guards, so the Rebels will have to look elsewhere now that Bradley is off the board.

Lafonte Johnson from Crispus Attucks Prep in York, Pa., was here last weekend on his recruiting visit. Steve Scoggin of Santa Ana, Calif., was here in February and is still uncommitted. Eddie Starks of Miami and Brandon Brooks of Portland, Ore., are among other top point guards who haven't chosen a school; because of academic difficulties, both are prep school candidates.

Attempts to contact Bayno were unsuccessful Tuesday, but he is prohibited from commenting about recruits.