Turner opts to leave Rebels’ program

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 9:23 a.m.

Ernest Turner went into his meeting Tuesday with UNLV head coach Charlie Spoonhour trying to determine his starting prospects for his junior season.

He left with his official release from the program.

The school announced Wednesday that Turner, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Magnolia, N.J., has been granted his release and is free to enroll at another college next fall. He is the second Rebels reserve to transfer this spring, joining forward Omari Pearson.

"I just thought it was time to move on," said Turner, who averaged 2.5 points and 12.8 minutes per game as a sophomore. "I didn't think things were going the way I had hoped."

"Anytime you lose two guys who are good people and nice people in your program, it hurts," Spoonhour said. "I can understand where Ernest is coming from. You come halfway across the country and you want to get your minutes."

With the graduation of starting guards Marcus Banks and Jermaine Lewis as well as the recent Achilles' tendon surgery to senior Demetrius Hunter, it appeared Turner might have had a chance to work his way into the starting lineup next fall with a good offseason.

Besides Hunter, UNLV's only other returning guards are redshirt freshmen Jon Osbourne and Mike Paulos. The Rebels also signed two highly rated high school prospects, Michael Umeh of Hightower High School in Missouri City, Texas, and John Winston of Hercules (Calif.) High School, as well as junior college swingman Andy Hannan.

UNLV has one scholarship to give and that is expected to go to 6-foot-7 swingman Romel Beck of Los Angeles City College. Beck is expected to choose the Rebels over Fresno State and Wyoming by the end of the week.

"Right now he doesn't have any other trips planned," LACC coach Mike Miller said. "I think UNLV is in the lead. I would think something may happen later this week."