Bayno, Rebels close to signing several recruits -- just not today

There'll be no need to monitor the fax machine Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center as the first day of the basketball spring signing period will be quiet for UNLV.

But there's a lot of activity going on. And by the time the signing period concludes May 15 there could be as many as five new Rebels in Bill Bayno's program.

"We definitely are going to sign three or four guys," Bayno said. "But it's probably going to be over the next few weeks. We won't sign anyone Wednesday the way it's looking."

Trevor Diggs, the 6-foot-3 guard from Kilgore (Texas) College, has verbally committed to the Rebels. But he will hold off on signing until the weekend, when he takes his official UNLV visit.

Lou Kelly, the 6-5 swingman from San Bernardino (Calif.) Community College, also is expected to visit Las Vegas this weekend. Kelly is said to be leaning heavily toward UNLV.

Meanwhile, Bayno is recovering from his trip to Latvia last week, where he spent time with 7-foot Raitis Graffs. Graffs supposedly is interested in coming to UNLV and plans are under way for him to make an official visit in the next couple of weeks.

UNLV remains involved with 6-5 guard Lamont Roland from Barton (Kan.) Community College; Danny Walker, a 6-1 combo guard from Compton (Calif.) College; Jeremy McNeal, a 6-10 center from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio; and Antonio Jackson, a 6-5 swingman from Butler (Kan.) Community College.

As for Jason Kapono, the 6-8 star from Artesia High in Lakewood, Calif., apparently still has UNLV on his list. Utah and Missouri are also on it and there are reports that Arizona is making a last-minute push to try and get Kapono.

Kapono also was considering Rhode Island, but scratched the Rams from his list when Jim Harrick left.

Bayno said he hoped to find out today whether or not UNLV remains in Kapono's plans.

And while the Rebels wait to hear from Kapono, it looks like Oscar Garcia will not be coming to UNLV after all. The 6-11 center from Spain signed early but may have to spend another year in prep school at Notre Dame Academy in Massachusetts which will void his national letter of intent.

Garcia's departure paved the way for UNLV to pursue Graffs.

While Bayno continues to recruit for the program's future, he has to firm up the existing roster. He has heard the reports out of Texas that freshman Chris Richardson was leaving, then staying. The two will meet today to once and for all figure out what Richardson will do.

"I think Chris has a chance to be really good here," Bayno said. "But I need to sit down with him, lay down the law and see if he's willing to accept his role in the program."

Bayno said he plans to do likewise with sophomore guard Greedy Daniels. Daniels has indicated he would like to remain in the program though there have been rumors circulating about his departure virtually nonstop for the better part of a year.

"I haven't talked to Greedy lately but we'll sit down as well and discuss it," Bayno said.

It does appear that freshman Desmond Herod will be leaving. Herod said he would make a decision upon his return from spring break. With school back in session Monday and Herod due back in town today, look for some sort of announcement any day from the 6-3 guard from Brooklyn, N.Y.

"It's looking like he's probably gone," Bayno said of Herod. "But I haven't talked to Des yet."

Bayno confirmed that nobody has officially asked for or received their scholarship release at this point. He also said the potential future Rebels are not backing away because of the NCAA's look-see into the program.

"Once I had a chance to explain what the situation (with the NCAA) was, everything was all right," he said. "We're OK with the kids we're recruiting."

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