RECRUITING: Chambers keeps top local talent at home

In football, UNLV enjoyed almost instant success recruiting local talent after coach Bobby Hauck was hired in December.

A similar fortune appears to have struck the Rebels baseball program.

Since UNLV hired Tim Chambers as its baseball coach from the College of Southern Nevada on June 11, the Rebels have secured oral commitments from five top locals in the class of 2011.

Rancho pitchers Eric Holdren and Zak Qualls along with infielder Brandon Pletsch, and Bishop Gorman catcher Erik Van Meetren and infielder T.J. White have committed to UNLV.

Holdren and Qualls backed out of previous commitments to San Diego State.

“I think with Tim, the history he had at CSN and the success he had there caught their interest,” Rancho coach Tom Pletsch said. “It made Zak and Eric look at UNLV differently than they had before.”

NCAA rules prevent Chambers from commenting on unsigned recruits. The players can sign their letters of intent starting Nov. 10, although June’s major league draft might complicate their decisions.

All three Rancho players earned first-team all-state honors last season, and White was a second-team all-state pick.

Tom Pletsch said he sensed the new UNLV coaching staff will make a point of recruiting locals.

“(Chambers) is the first guy who’s done that recently,” he said. “To lock up five guys right away is a feather in his cap, and if he continues to get the local kids, his program won’t succeed only in wins. They’ll fill up the stadium.”

JOHNSON TO ARIZONA — Findlay Prep senior guard Nick Johnson, the nephew of late NBA great Dennis Johnson, committed to Arizona on Wednesday.

UNLV was among the schools that had offered Johnson a scholarship, but his mother, Michelle, said her son’s final four had been trimmed to Arizona, Arizona State, Louisville and Kansas.

“He has faith in (Wildcats coach) Sean Miller, that he’s going to develop him to the next level,” Michelle Johnson said. “He’s always been at the top of their list. He feels he can win games there.”

Johnson, a native of Gilbert, Ariz., averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior.

MORE DECISIONS — Two senior girls soccer players who star on the club circuit with Neusport Football Club have made recent college commitments.

Faith Lutheran goalkeeper Marissa Fehrman chose Idaho, and Cimarron-Memorial defender Hailey Kirkwood picked Akron.

Class of 2010 athletes who made late commitments to Division I programs include Palo Verde girls lacrosse player Nicolle Childers (Howard) and Cheyenne girls triple jumper Alexys Lewis (Bethune-Cookman).

Also, Cimarron running back James Poole committed to Saddleback (Calif.) College.