UNLV's Kambala to attend Big Man's Camp

A busy summer is about to get a little busier for UNLV sophomore center Kaspars Kambala.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Kambala, who spent part of the offseason playing with the junior national team in his native Latvia, is headed to Hawaii Aug. 17 to participate in the Pete Newell Big Man's Camp.

The camp, held annually by invitation only, is a mix of NBA players, pro rookies and college stars. The instruction at the week-long camp has been widely hailed as one of the best teaching forums for developing players.

Kambala averaged 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in earning WAC Freshman of the Year honors. He registered nine double-doubles (double-digit points and rebounds) and had his best game against Chicago State, when he scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed a career-best 16 boards.

The hope is the week in Hawaii will help Kambala improve his footwork and make him a more effective defender.

"I think it's a great idea," coach Bill Bayno said of Kambala's invitation. "To work with the guy who's the guru of NBA big men in Pete Newell and be around all those good players ... it can only help him."

Marion due next week

The long-awaited arrival of Shawn Marion to Las Vegas will take place early next week.

The 6-7 junior forward from Vincennes (Ind.) University, the last player cut from the gold medal-winning USA basketball team at last month's Goodwill Games, is participating in the Chicago Pro-Am Summer League playoffs this weekend.

Once the playoffs are over, Marion is expected to fly to Las Vegas. Once he gets to town, the only player missing will be junior Mark Dickel, who is spending the summer back home in New Zealand and isn't expected back until shortly before classes for the fall semester begin Aug. 24.

Marion recently was acknowledged for his national JC Male Athlete of the Year honor by appearing in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."

ESPN7

Though the 1998-98 basketball schedule isn't final, UNLV's television slate is coming into focus.

ESPN has confirmed the Rebels will be seen seven times this season, either on ESPN or ESPN2. UNLV's game with Kansas Nov. 27 in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass., will be shown on ESPN, as will the Dec. 19 Las Vegas Shootout game with Cincinnati.

The Rebels' home games with Oklahoma State Dec. 22 and the yet-to-be-determined date with Georgetown will be shown on ESPN, as well as a WAC Mountain Division Big Monday matchup with Texas Christian Feb. 22.

The two dates on the Deuce are WAC games at Tulsa (Feb. 15) and a home date with Southern Methodist (Feb. 20).

Still to be determined is who will carry the UCLA game Dec. 12 at Pauley Pavilion. Because of the Pacific 10 Conference's deal with Fox Sports, ESPN cannot televise a Pac-10 team on its home floor. That means either Fox or possibly ABC may air the game with the Bruins.

It appears seven UNLV road games will be televised live in Las Vegas on KFBT Channel 33 (Prime Cable 6). The Nevada-Reno game Dec. 5 along with the Jan. 21 and 23 games at SMU and TCU, respectively, are headed for Gold 33. So are the Feb. 6 game at Air Force, the Feb. 13 game at Rice, the Feb. 25 game at Colorado State and the Feb. 27 game at Wyoming.

If no one picks up the UCLA game, that would provide a bonus game for KFBT (although it's unlikely the networks would pass on it). UNLV has a 10-game, football-basketball combined agreement with KFBT.

Hoop du jour

* GEORGETOWN UPDATE: It may take another week or two, but a date may be forthcoming for the UNLV-Georgetown game. Associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said he is working with the Big East Conference to find a suitable date for the Hoyas to visit the Thomas & Mack Center. Part of the problem is Georgetown is the third tenant in the new MCI Center in downtown Washington D.C., and the school had to wait until the NBA Wizards and the NHL Capitals finalized their 1998-99 schedules -- something which didn't take place until 10 days ago. One added consideration is ESPN plans to televise the game, so it has to be played on one of the nights the cable network shows college basketball.

* RECRUITING TRAIL: The July recruiting evaluation period has come and gone with Artesia (Calif.) High's 6-7 swingman Jason Kapono remaining at the top of UNLV's wish list. The Rebels also are pursuing 6-9 forward Dalron Johnson from Verbum Dei High in Southern California and 6-10 center Nick Vander Laan of Kent (Conn.) Preparatory School. Now you can add forward Steve Hunter from the Illinois Fire AAU team to the list. The 6-10 Hunter is from Proviso East High in Maywood, Ill., and played exceptionally well last week in San Diego at the High Five America summer tournament. Hunter is slated to attend Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. this year.

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