UNLV coaches getting a recruiting eyeful

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, July 24, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.

UNLV basketball coaches have been busy evaluating players and making themselves visible to key recruits this week at the adidas Big Time Tournament that concludes Friday night.

UNLV will have five scholarships to give for the 2003-'04 season.

On the wish list are: forward Trevor Ariza (LA Pump N Run); Green Valley center Mitch Platt (Las Vegas Stars); guards John Winston (Oakland Slam N Jam), Michael Umeh (Houston Superstars 3 Stripes) and Khalif Ford (LA Rockfish); and Cheyenne swingman Lorenzo Wade (Las Vegas Rebels).

The 6-foot-8 Ariza showed his versatility while scoring 22 points and pulling down six rebounds during Pump N Run's 82-76 victory over Gateway Bball Club 17s (Mo.) at Green Valley High School Tuesday. Other coaches watching that game included Florida's Billy Donovan, Southern Cal's Henry Bibby and Louisville's Rick Pitino.

Ariza said he's considering all of the above schools as well as UNLV and Maryland.

"They're in the running," he said of UNLV. "I like the coach (Charlie Spoonhour) a lot and I think I can learn a lot from him if I go there.

"I want to go somewhere I'll get a chance to play as a freshman. That's important."

Ariza said he'll most likely make a binding commitment during the early signing period in November.

Umeh, a 6-foot-3 point guard for Houston Superstars 3 Stripes, scored four of his six points in the second half and had three assists in a 60-42 win over the Granite State Raiders.

UNLV, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Colorado State and SMU are Umeh's top choices.

"I may try to take an official visit (to UNLV) in August or September," he said. "They're really high on my list because they've shown me a lot of interest.

"I like the conference and the schedule is good. They get some TV games which is good."

Ford, of LA Rockfish, had right knee surgery nine weeks ago and has played sparingly at the Big Time, still searching for rhythm.

"It's feeling much better now," said Ford, who is considering UNLV, DePaul, Oregon and Nebraska. "I just have to be careful."

Ford said he has enjoyed his talks with Spoonhour.