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Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 | 2:45 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
Final push for the postseason
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer look across the Las Vegas valley at the playoff races still alive entering the last week of the regular season. Does Canyon Springs have a shot against Las Vegas? What about Foothill vs. Liberty? Listen in for discussion on these topics and more.
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Desert Pines High senior safety Leon Hayes became the first local from the class of 2012 to verbally commit to a Division I football program when he selected UTEP this week.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Hayes took a recruiting trip last weekend to the school, where he was recruited by defensive coordinator Andre Patterson. Patterson’s son, A.C. Patterson, played on Bishop Gorman’s last two state title teams and is currently in his first season with the UTEP program.
“They are getting a hard worker,” Desert Pines coach Paul Bennett said. “The kid committed himself to getting better over the winter. One of the knocks on him was his speed. But he has shown this year that when he gets out there, nobody can catch him. I’m very proud of him.”
Hayes doubles at running back, rushing for 865 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games. While he was being recruited by a few other schools, UTEP was the lone to offer him a scholarship.
Desert Pines has sent a player to the Division I ranks the last three years.
Commitments aren’t official until national signing day in early February.
Once again another Las Vegas athlete leaves town and was never offered by UNLV. Better hope that the Sanford and Robinson methods of getting local talent is not be followed up by Hauck? Wyoming just beat you, not exactly a home state for top high school talent. Nevada has high school talent and it continues to leave to other programs. With the other big talent at DP also having alot of national rides wonder if Hauck made the effort early to extend a ride to him early in the process or did he just wake up to the fact that other schools are wanting these kids? Then we better offer the kid - sorry it is too late now. Have not seen the recruits of Hauck being so much better that grabbing top kids from Vegas is not a priority.
Kirkland: Hauck recruits the Las Vegas Valley better than any UNLV coach I have seen. He's respected by several in the local prep community and scouting kids from every corner of town. UNLV will never get the top end athlete -- Gorman's Ronnie Stanley, for instance -- but eventually will athlete signing some better players. Hayes is a nice player, but has major questions with his speed. That's likely why UNLV didn't offer. Trust me, great for the kid to get a free education, but not the end of the world for the Rebels' problems.
I'm with Ray..i've already seen Hauck and Co. at more prep games this year than I ever saw previously from rebels. There was a good period in early 2000's where Oregon State signed a bunch of local kids that never got UNLV offers and ended up doing well.
I think Hauck is doing much better than his predecesors ref recruiting locals...he's not getting the drawing power Rice is getting for rebel basketball but he's trying i'll give him credit for that.