Wade right in

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, July 24, 2002 | 10 a.m.

He was generally the No. 4 option on his own Cheyenne High squad last season, but Lorenzo Wade won't be playing second fiddle to many players in Nevada next winter.

During the past few months, the 6-foot-6 senior-to-be has emerged not only as one of the top prospects in the Silver State, but also as one of the most highly-rated shooting guards on the West Coast.

On Monday and Tuesday, Wade did nothing to damage that newfound reputation, helping his Las Vegas Rebels into the prestigious open bracket of this week's adidas Big Time Tournament with a 3-0 showing in pool play.

"People started to take notice of what Lorenzo could do around Eastertime, and it's taken off from there," Rebels coach Shawn King said. "He can do so many things on a basketball court."

An athletic leaper with 3-point shooting range, Wade's primary asset may be his incredible wingspan. Already taller than most guards, Wade takes advantage of his long arms to block shots, grab rebounds over big forwards and disrupt passing lanes atop his squad's defensive alignment.

"I'm not the quickest player, so I try to use my wingspan to my advantage -- stay long, stay big," said Wade, who scored a team-high 17 points to go with nine rebounds and three blocks in a 71-65 win over Southwest Nebraska Select Tuesday.

Offered Desert Shields coach Larry Johnson: "He can guard anyone, from little to big, and with his wingspan, he's so long he can make it very tough to get a shot off. Lorenzo has a chance to be one of the best players in Nevada."

After transferring from Green Valley to Cheyenne last season, Wade initially struggled to make a name for himself. He missed parts of the year with eligibility difficulties, and when he did play, he generally deferred to veteran teammates Johnny Wheeler and brothers Keith and Kevin Richardson.

During the Shields' postseason run to the state finals, however, Wade began to assert himself, scoring 13 points in all three of his team's games.

This year, with transfers Chris Fuller (Centennial), Kevin Woodruff (Clark) and Kenny Crockett (Bishop Gorman) expected to join Cheyenne returnees Chad Ferguson, Greg Barlow and Wade, the Shields should be a favorite to reach the state finale once again.

"We should be a team to watch out for, without a doubt," Wade said. "This year, I'll try to lead my team to a state championship."

Wade lists Marquette, Tennessee, Oregon, USC and UNLV as his top college choices, but before he can begin considering which school to attend, he has classroom work to do if he hopes to qualify for a scholarship.

"It's going to be a little touch and go," Johnson said. "He's got a little ways to go, but he has a shot. The ball is all in his court. He'll have to apply himself and really work hard."

He also has made backup plans, in case a Division I scholarship isn't in the cards in 2003.

"I'm really thinking Division I, but if that doesn't work out, I'd go to prep school for a year," Wade said.