Las Vegas Sun

By Rob Miech · March 25, 2008 · 6:59 PM

Findlay College Prep junior forward Carlos Lopez made an oral commitment to UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger on Tuesday.

A 6-foot-10, 200-pound center from Puerto Rico who is nicknamed “Yao,” after Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, Lopez is the second player to commit to the Rebels’ 2009 recruiting class. Justin Hawkins, a 6-3 junior guard from Taft High in Woodland Hills, Calif., was the first to commit to Kruger so early.

Lopez averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds during the Pilots’ 32-1 season that recently ended in a defeat in the title game of the National Prep Championship in the Bronx, N.Y.

“Coach Kruger has no angles,” said Findlay coach Mike Peck. “He’s sincere and genuine, and that’s what Carlos has seen since he’s been here. He’s excited about spending six years in Las Vegas.”

Peck loses six key players from the team that flirted with an undefeated season in the second year of the program. He said he will expect much from Lopez as a senior.

“Carlos will have to bring it next season,” Peck said. “He’ll be prepared. But he’ll be just as important off the floor, meeting with the new guys and bringing them, as quickly as possible, up to speed with how we do things.”

Lopez coached the fifth- and sixth-grade boys team at the Henderson International School, with which Findlay is affiliated, this past season.

Kruger cannot speak about a recruit until he signs a letter of intent to attend UNLV.