Kelly's return looks like a long shot

Even with his right leg in a cast from shin to toes, UNLV's Lou Kelly can really shoot.

Stand-still jump shots are a part of his daily routine while he recovers from a fractured foot, and Kelly's highly touted stroke seems to be holding up. He is almost automatic from 15 feet.

But Rebels fans will probably have to wait until next season to get a second look at Kelly. His foot isn't healing ahead of schedule, so it's virtually certain that he won't play again this season.

"Lou's not really on a 3-to-6-week timetable right now," trainer Dave Tomchek said. "I think he can look forward to being healthy for the summer."

The shooting guard has been in a hard cast since Jan. 25 and had hoped to be practicing by next week. But X-rays last week still showed separation between the broken bones, Kelly said, and he won't be re-examined for at least another week.

Kelly hasn't given up hope for this season, but admits his return is a long shot.

"I am trying to rush it, but at the same time, not rush it," he said. "I don't want to break it again. Now it's up to how the bones heal. It could be slow and it could be fast.

"For instance, today it feels good. But tomorrow I could be right back where I started. Now it feels like it's almost healed, but the X-rays showed that it's still separated.

"If I can't come back this year, I'm not going to be sad or anything like that, because I know my time will come."

In the meantime, Kelly is doing daily swim therapy and upper-body work to keep his strength up, and he shoots around after his teammates are done practicing.

In his only two appearances last month, Kelly had four points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

* REBEL NOTES: Coach Bill Bayno was out sick Tuesday and Glynn Cyprien was out recruiting, so assistant Max Good ran practice. ...

Mark Dickel took a spill in practice and limped off the court with a sore knee, but was able to return. Donovan Stewart and Ike Epps also got knocked down and came back. ...

Dickel is in a virtual tie for the NCAA Division I assists lead. Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb has 197 in 22 games for an average of 8.954 and Dickel has 188 in 21 games for 8.952. ...

Point guard Eddie Starks from Miami reportedly has narrowed his choices to UNLV and Rutgers. He hasn't been offered a scholarship, however, and is seen as a fall-back prospect for the Rebels.

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