Rebels’ recruit still mulling his decision

Steve Addy

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

The first day of the NCAA basketball signing period left the Rebels waiting by the mailbox.

While two UNLV recruits plan to make good on their oral commitments this week, another prospect is apparently unsure about signing with the Rebels.

Ernest Turner, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Sterling High School in Somerdale, N.J., has narrowed his choices to UNLV, Villanova and Rutgers. He said in August that he was leaning toward the Rebels, but that might not be the case anymore.

Turner, who averaged 26 points last season, is rated as the nation's No. 13 shooting guard prospect by The Insiders Report, a respected college recruiting tracker. Other services rank him among the top 50 players nationwide.

Rick Barrett, Turner's summer coach and legal guardian, told The Insiders Report on Wednesday that Turner hasn't made up his mind.

"Ernie is still wide open," Barrett said. "He is scheduled to attend next week's Preseason NIT game at Villanova (against Fairfield)."

That game is Tuesday, a day before the signing period ends. Turner will have to wait until April 11 if he doesn't sign by Wednesday.

Rebels coach Bill Bayno wouldn't comment, because he isn't allowed to discuss recruits until they sign. Phone calls to Barrett in New Jersey weren't returned.

Though Bayno has visited Turner in New Jersey, Turner has made no official campus visits because he has yet to attempt the SAT. He was registered to take the test last weekend, but illness caused him to delay it until Dec. 2.

There are no roadblocks with UNLV's other two recruits: 6-2 guard Marcus Banks from Dixie College in St. George, Utah (via Cimarron-Memorial HS), and 6-10 center Simplice Njoya from Cameroon and The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Banks plans to sign tonight at Dixie's season opener, while Njoya signed Wednesday and is waiting for his guardians in Minnesota to add their signatures.

Banks is playing shooting guard at Dixie, though the Rebels envision him as a point guard.

UNLV won't make any announcements about recruits until all letters are received, but other Mountain West schools released lists Wednesday.

Wyoming got signatures from two guards: 5-11 Jason Straight from Dunbar HS in Chicago and 6-2 Donta Richardson from Sheridan JC in Colorado Springs.

New Mexico received commitments from 6-11 center Chad Bell from Westchester HS in Los Angeles and 6-6 forward Jamaal Williams from Centennial HS in Corona, Calif.

After a poor 2000 recruiting year, new Colorado State coach Dale Layer signed five players: guard Freddie Robinson and forward Angelo Estes, both preps from Tulsa; center Darion Burke from Grayson JC in Texas; prep forward Matt Williams of Temple, Texas; and forward Quantone Smith of North Dakota State JC.

Utah did not release its signees, but has commitments from guard Eric Osmundson of San Diego, guard Martin Osmani of Hialeah, Fla., and center Chris Jackson of Los Alamos, N.M.