Junior college forward signs to attend UNLV

That depleted UNLV basketball roster is filling up fast as the Rebels continue to reach into the junior-college ranks in an attempt to quickly rebuild the program.

Chris Popoola, a 6-6, 215-pound forward from Los Angeles City College, is the latest signee in Bill Bayno's 1999 recruiting class. The first-team all-South Coast Conference selection joins Lou Kelly, Trevor Diggs, Sylvester Dotson and Mike Garrett as members of the spring signing period group. High school star Dalron Johnson from Verbum Dei in Los Angeles signed early last November.

According to LACC coach Mike Miller, Popoola will remind UNLV fans of former Rebel Warren Rosegreen, an undersized power forward who outworked bigger opponents on the boards and could score inside.

"He's a little bit unheralded," Miller said of Popoola, "but he's a very good athlete and a very hard worker. He can bring a dimension of toughness to their team, something I think was lacking last season."

Popoola averaged 16 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Miller said he can guard big guards as well as small forwards and he's a good shooter. Popoola shot 52 percent from the floor this past season for the Cubs, who finished 22-10.

Popoola is expected to be a backup at both forward spots. He supposedly is comfortable with that role.

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