Minnesota juco star set to sign with UNLV

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, April 16, 2003 | 9:06 a.m.

Andy Hannan could have taken a recruiting trip to two-time defending Big Ten champion Wisconsin. Final Four participant Marquette called to see if he was interested.

But Hannan, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, turned those schools down to sign a national letter of intent with UNLV today.

"Yep, I'm signing the paper and then sending it off (today)," Hannan said. "I hope to be out there working out during the summer."

Hannan, who gives the Rebels a much-needed outside scoring threat, averaged 20.5 points and 7.2 rebounds this season. He was a teammate of potential NBA first-round pick Troy Bell of Boston College at Holy Angels School in Minneapolis, and also University of Pittsburgh standout wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Hannan is the fourth member of what will be a five-man recruiting class for Charlie Spoonhour, joining November signees Chris Adams, a highly touted 6-10 forward/center from San Francisco City College, and standout prep guards Michael Umeh of Missouri City, Texas, and John Winston of Hercules, Calif.

The next signee could be 6-foot-7 small forward Romel Beck of California state junior college champion Los Angeles City College. He will make an official visit to UNLV Friday.

Beck spent last weekend at Mountain West Conference rival Wyoming. According to LACC coach Mike Miller, Fresno State, Alabama and Auburn are also trying to get Beck to visit.

"It seemed like he enjoyed his trip (to Wyoming) very much," said Miller, who does not allow his players to talk with coaches or the media. "Their coaches seem to think he had a great visit. But I told both schools up front that Romel is going to visit both UNLV and Wyoming and then we're going to sit down and go over where we stand."

Miller, who also coached former San Diego State star Randy Holcomb, believes Beck could have the same kind of impact in the MWC.

"Most people think he's the best shooter in the country," Miller said. "And he can also create his own shot. I've had over 45 Division I players in the last nine years here. I've never had another player like him. Although they're different types of players, I think Romel could have the same kind of impact in the Mountain West that Randy did. He's very special."

How special?

"We're considering retiring his number (No. 1)," Miller said. "We've only done that for two players here, Holcomb and Derrick Brown, who was an all-Big East player at Providence. He's a great kid who doesn't smoke or drink. He's also only the second kid from California to be picked in the National Junior College All-Star Game (April 26 in Jonesboro, Ark.). The other was Holcomb."

Miller said he would probably sit down with Beck on Monday or Tuesday of next week to see if he should take any more trips or commit. Beck made an unofficial trip to UNLV to watch the Rebels lose to Hawaii in the first round of the NIT last month.

"I think that stuff is overblown," Miller said when asked if UNLV's disappointing performance before a small crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center could affect Beck's thought process. "I told him ahead of time that Vegas people aren't really too hot on the NIT and not to expect much of a crowd."

Thomas and former UAB coach Murray Bartow, son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow, are the frontrunners. Bartow was interviewed Monday and the school is expected to make a decision this week.

The tournament, which features about 60 college seniors who hope to impress NBA scouts in attendance, can help boast a player's stock heading into the NBA Draft in June.

Johnson averaged 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in his three games, but shot just 37.1 percent from the floor (13 of 35) and failed to connect on his five tries from 3-point range. 5 points and 7.2 rebounds this season for Minneapolis Community and Technical College.