With Hamga gone, who takes the scholarship?

By Ryan Greene

Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 | 2:10 a.m.

With Beas Hamga no longer a member of the UNLV men's basketball program, it's not necessarily the Rebels' current rotation that's in question.

Instead, the question becomes: Who do Lon Kruger and his staff go and get to fill that vacated scholarship?

Well, for the time being, it's going to UCLA transfer Chace Stanback, who will be eligible to begin playing next season as a sophomore. But the Rebels can now sign yet another player to their 2009 class ... or one for 2010.

When Mojave High guard Anthony Marshall committed to the Rebels on Aug. 14, he spoke for UNLV's last available scholarship for next season at the time.

"We'll stay flexible," Kruger said following Friday morning's practice. "We've got one available for '09, or we can carry it over and instead of having one for 2010, have two. So we can go either way, depending on what's available."

Kruger said they've kept an eye out for what's available, too. Even with all of their 2009-10 scholarships spoken for up until Friday morning, Kruger said it's common practice.

"I think people generally do that," he said. "You always want everyone to be back, but you can never assume everyone's gonna be back. Generally try to keep those options open."

Even with Hamga's 7-foot frame no longer on campus, the Rebels are in no dire need for help in the paint. Junior Darris Santee and freshman Brice Massamba are a solid one-two punch, plus, in a pinch, 6-foot-7 senior Joe Darger can flex down to play and defend in the post.

As for next season, UNLV will add another 7-footer -- Findlay Prep's Carlos Lopez, who is off to a solid start for the 7-0 Pilots. Most recently, he scored 15 points and took down 11 rebounds in a 114-81 victory over Desert Pines on Thursday night.

One possible name to keep an ear open for would be that of 6-foot-7 Findlay senior Victor Rudd, a Southern California product who might have an interest in UNLV.

He has listed Arizona, Marquette and Washington as his top candidates, but he's been non-committal about naming any of the three as a leader.

He told the Sun he has no timetable for making a decision.

Rudd must still achieve a qualifying test score to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

"He's open," said Findlay coach Mike Peck. "He will have a lot of options."

This is the third year of the Findlay program, but it already has a solid track record with UNLV. Massamba helped the Pilots go 32-1 a year ago. Current junior Godwin Okonji, a 6-foot-9 forward from Nigeria, told the Sun he wants to play at UNLV.

UNLV's name popped up in relation to two major prospects over the summer months.

First was Renardo Sidney, who Rivals ranks as the No. 10 prospect in the class. He listed the Rebels as a program he was looking at, but at the time, coach Lon Kruger said he'd never even spoken to the Fairfax (Calif.) High product.

Next up was Keith 'Tiny' Gallon, the No. 31 prospect in the class, who plays his prep ball at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., but is a Houston native who plays his summer ball for Houston Hoops -- the same program that churned out Wink Adams. Gallon, however, committed to Oklahoma on Nov. 11.

One more name to keep on the radar for the time being -- albeit a potential longshot -- is that of Jeff Withey. The 7-footer was highly touted a year ago coming out of San Diego's Horizon High, and signed with Arizona. However, in the wake of Lute Olsen stepping down there, Withey requested a release from his scholarship. It wasn't granted until recently, and he is now looking for a new home come fall semester.

Reached by phone Friday afternoon, his mother, Debbie Withey, could not confirm whether UNLV was a school her son was interested in as a possible destination. She said she had no information even regarding any schools he's leaning toward.

Withey's mother moved with him to Tucson, and she said she'll do the same wherever her son lands next semester, as she plans to relocate come August. Attempts to reach Jeff Withey on Friday were unsuccessful.

He recently told GoAZCats.com that he's looking first at the schools that recruited him out of high school. He’ll be eligible to play following next year’s fall semester.

UNLV's connection with Withey is freshman guard Oscar Bellfield, who played AAU ball with the big man for EBO, based out of Southern California.

"We talk every now and then," Bellfield said Friday. "It could help -- sure, it could help a lot. But we've just got to worry about this year, stay focused and we've got a lot to work on."