With new coach in place, recruits weighing options

Steve Addy

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

Rebels recruit Marcus Banks can write his own ticket after starring for Dixie College in the national JC tournament.

And there are a number of high-profile programs that would love to add the 6-foot-2 point guard from Las Vegas, reportedly including Fresno State, Louisville, Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan.

Now it's up to Banks, and UNLV's other two November signees, to decide if they want to play under new Rebels coach Charlie Spoonhour.

After Spoonhour was hired Thursday, he said he was trying to contact Banks, New Jersey shooting guard Ernest Turner and prep school center Simplice Njoya to introduce himself and ask them to stick with UNLV.

"All I'll ask is that they give me a chance," Spoonhour said.

Spoonhour got an up-close look at Banks last week at the JC finals in Hutchinson, Kan. Dixie placed third after losing in the semis to eventual champion Wabash Valley (Ill.) College -- coached by Spoonhour's son Jay -- and the elder Spoonhour loved Banks' game.

With the uncertainty at UNLV, Banks' performance caused renewed interest by schools thinking that he might abandon UNLV.

"I will give (Spoonhour) a chance," Banks said from St. George, Utah. "I'm not going to make any decisions yet."

Turner couldn't be reached for comment in Somerville, N.J., but his legal guardian Rick Barrett was distressed by the hiring of Spoonhour.

"I'm probably going to call UNLV and ask to get out of the letter (of intent)," Barrett said.

Njoya's situation is unique.

The 6-10 forward from Cameroon chose UNLV because of his ties to assistant coach Charles Cunningham. If Cunningham isn't retained, Njoya might play elsewhere or stay in prep school for another year, then re-enter the recruiting process.