Top USC recruit pays Rebels a visit

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

Marvin Simmons isn't the highest profile recruit to visit UNLV during John Robinson's tenure.

No, that honor would go to his former high school teammate and cousin -- Jason Thomas.

But the 6-0, 220-pound linebacker from perennial prep powerhouse Long Beach Poly High School is probably a close second.

And the fact that Simmons, who recently gave a non-binding oral commitment to USC, still decided to take an official college recruiting trip to UNLV this past weekend along with two highly touted Jackrabbits teammates -- defensive back Ray Washington and speedy wide receiver Donte Candler -- speaks volumes about how far the Rebel football program has come in just two years under Robinson.

"Knowing what I know about Coach Robinson and Jason played a big part in my visiting UNLV," Simmons, who garnered eight votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's prestigious Best in the West poll of college coaches, said. "Jason is my cousin and he says he loves it here. He says it's the best thing that has ever happened in his life which really means a lot to me. And that plays a role in how I feel about Coach Robinson and UNLV."

Still, Simmons, one of the top three prep linebacker prospects on the West Coast this year along with Westminister (Calif.) La Quinta's Michael Craven and Concord (Calif.) De La Salle's Kevin Simon, said the Trojans remain his first choice.

"I'm committed to USC right now," Simmons said. "I plan to keep it that way. But it's been a good experience visiting here. I'm very impressed with what I've seen."

However, those close to Simmons said that UNLV is very much still in the running in part because there is a good chance he could not meet USC's stringent academic entrance requirements. Robinson made it known to Simmons during his visit that he would go to school president Dr. Carol Harter if necessary to fight for his admittance to UNLV.

UNLV didn't receive any new verbal commitments from the eight recruits who visited although Candler and Washington both are said to be strongly leaning to the Rebels as is versatile Carson (Calif.) quarterback Justin Cooper (6-0, 180), who will likely end up at wide receiver or defensive back in college.

Long Beach Poly wide receiver Mike Willis (6-2, 175), the fastest player on one of the nation's fastest prep teams, was a late scratch on his UNLV trip and reportedly will decide between Oregon and Oregon State. However, there is still a chance that Willis may visit UNLV unofficially later this week before making his final decision.

One highly touted wide receiver who will visit UNLV this weekend is Earvin Johnson (6-3, 195) of Cathedral High School in Los Angeles.

Johnson, who garnered four votes in the Best in the West poll, originally committed to Georgia Tech last summer but said this weekend he will now pick between UNLV, Cal, Washington State and Arizona State.

The Rebels did get a commitment over the weekend from Marcus Maxwell (6-3, 190), an honorable mention all-state receiver from Pinole Valley (Calif.). High School in the east Bay Area of San Francisco.

Maxwell, who visited UNLV back in early December, picked the Rebels over Fresno State. He is from the same high school that produced Rebel defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson.

Although the school's full schedule won't be released until the end of this month at the earliest, the Rebels' tentative home opener is set for Sept. 8 against Northwestern. UNLV will also host BYU, Utah, Colorado State and San Diego State. Individual game tickets will not go on sale until August, according to Terry Cottle, UNLV's associate athletic director in charge of sports marketing.