Future point guard set to sign<!-- 2008(unknown) -->

For more than two years, Bellfield, a 6-foot-1-inch point guard from Los Angeles, played a waiting game with college recruiters. He rejected most of them.

He shot down his first offer from Washington after his freshman year of high school, and continued his defensive stance as UNLV, San Diego State, Oregon State, Washington State and others made subsequent advances.

“I didn’t want to rush into something,” he said. “I wanted to make sure it was the right choice.”

After a few twists and turns in his recruiting tale, Bellfield committed to the Rebels in early March. The senior from Westchester High School plans to send in his letter of intent today, when the spring signing period opens.

“The UNLV program, each year, is getting better and better,” Bellfield said.

The Rebels are 57-15 with three NCAA Tournament wins in the past two years. But coach Lon Kruger’s four-player recruiting class for 2008 is not creating much hype.

All Star Sports recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said UNLV’s incoming group could rank in the top 50 nationally.

“I think this is a good class. There’s not a McDonald’s All-American, but Lon is not geared to go after those players,” Gibbons said. “He seems to want guys who are a good fit in the program and can be coachable.”

Gibbons said New Mexico is signing a top 25 class that ranks as the best in the Mountain West Conference.

Bellfield and 6-10 center Brice Massamba from Findlay Prep in Henderson can sign with the Rebels today. Signing in November were Deshawn Mitchell, a 6-6 forward from Monmouth Academy in Howell, N.J., and 6-8 forward Darris Santee from Midland (Texas) College.

None of those players is a five-star prospect, but the ranking of recruits is far from an exact science.

UNLV was in the hunt for two highly touted senior forwards — Luke Babbitt from Galena High and Jeff Taylor from Hobbs, N.M. Babbitt orally committed to Ohio State but reneged and will sign with UNR. Taylor eliminated the Rebels when he narrowed his list to three schools, and Texas is the favorite to get him.

Gibbons said “Las Vegas has a lot to offer,” and his opinion is that UNLV’s coaching staff is recruiting wisely.

“They just don’t seem to have success recruiting those high-profile guys at this point. But they don’t just automatically assume they’re not going to get a kid. They are making the effort,” Gibbons said.

“There’s something to be said for efficiency in recruiting, and not spending all their time going after kids who will probably go to Arizona or UCLA. But look at Lon’s success. They get good guys.”

Gibbons said his analysis of the Rebels’ class is incomplete because he knows little about Mitchell, a possible sleeper.

“Massamba can be an inside force,” Gibbons said. “If Santee was still around in the spring, a coach like Tom Crean at Indiana would love to have him.”

Kruger has one scholarship remaining, and it might go to Rene Rougeau for his senior year. Rougeau, who still is paying his own way through school, started 27 games for the Rebels as a junior.

With six newcomers next season — a group that includes two redshirts, freshman center Beas Hamga and sophomore point guard Tre’Von Willis — it’s logical that UNLV’s final scholarship should go to Rougeau or a transfer.

Malcolm Thomas, a 6-9 freshman from Pepperdine, is showing interest in the Rebels. Thomas might be leaning toward transferring to UCLA.

Gibbons said Bellfield should “fit in perfectly in Kruger’s style of play” as a backup point guard next season.

As a junior at Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High, Bellfield drew interest — but no offers — from Kansas, Oregon and Southern California. Last summer, after he struggled with a groin injury and played poorly in a summer tournament in Las Vegas, his options dwindled.

The Kansas recruiters were long gone, and the UNLV coaching staff also backed off.

But Bellfield put together a strong senior season at Westchester High, and after three players dropped off the Rebels’ roster, a scholarship opened and the two sides were brought back together.

Bellfield was no longer in position to wait for a call from a top Pac-10 Conference program. He jumped at his final offer from UNLV.

“Another chance came, and I really wanted to go there,” said Bellfield, who has a long relationship with Rebels assistant coach Lew Hill. “We’ve been talking for a while. I feel everything worked out well. I wouldn’t regret anything.”

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.