L.A. talent pipeline closed for now

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004 | 9:46 a.m.

As long as Lon Kruger is coaching UNLV, do not expect the Rebels to score a Los Angeles City College recruiting coup like it has over the past 18 months with Jerel Blassingame, Romel Beck and Wilbur Williams.

LACC coach Mike Miller said he won't allow it, that he officially shut off the pipeline from his program to Southern Nevada when Kruger did not retain Dave Rice, a Miller confidant, on his staff last spring.

Rice moved on to Utah State, where he's an assistant under coach Stew Morrill.

"I don't feel like (Kruger) has been respectful to me or my program," Miller said. "The way Lon Kruger handled Dave Rice would preclude UNLV, under this regime, from ever getting a player out of here again."

Kruger replaced Rice, Jay Spoonhour and Deane Martin with Marvin Menzies, Lew Hill and Steve Henson.

Miller, arguably the most influential junior college basketball coach in California, is as well-known for his intricate motion offense as he is for being controlling in whom he allows his players to speak with and persuasive in where they transfer.

Arizona, Gonzaga and Pittsburgh were in until the end for Blassingame's services, and Alabama, Auburn and Illinois made the final cut for Beck.

"If Jerel had gone to Arizona he would have played, but he wouldn't have played as much and he wouldn't have done as well," Miller said. "At Alabama or Illinois, Romel would have been a role player, the shooting guy against the zone off the bench.

"We mainly thought it was a great opportunity for them at UNLV. We loved coach Spoonhour and everything he stood for, and to have Dave Rice there ... that's what made it all click."

Kruger couldn't recall ever meeting Miller. They might have spoken once or twice on the phone, Kruger said, but Kruger could not remember the topics or when those calls might have occurred. Miller said he has never met Kruger.

"Everyone has his own opinion as to what we need to do, but I need to do what's best for our program," Kruger said.

Expect Utah State and San Diego State to benefit from Miller's UNLV boycott.

Miller said he rewarded SDSU coach Steve Fisher for hiring Menzies, another Miller confidant, in 1999 by sending LACC scorer Randy Holcomb to the Aztecs. Three years ago, Holcomb helped SDSU reach its first NCAA tournament since 1985.

However, Miller said his displeasure with Kruger will preclude him from assisting UNLV, via his relationship with the well-traveled Menzies, with any LACC recruits in the future.

"I do occasionally communicate with Marvin," Miller said. "Marvin and I, we're close. We're still friendly and cordial, and he understands. I told him this is not personal, but UNLV isn't welcome to come to our gym. They know.

"That's a pretty direct answer for you. I don't like to play games. As long as that regime is in place, we will not be doing anything with UNLV."