nick curtis, unlv recruiting

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Curtis Takes Official Visit To USF &
We Take A Segue To UNLV--(Sept 30, 2000)

We were happy to read some recruiting news finally about Nick Curtis (6'-8" Sr. PF) from Oxnard HS, who has been sort of the "forgotten" Rockfish big man amongst all of the news about Julian Sensely, Rory O'Neil, Alex Graham, and Bryant Markson and Darryl Pegram. Recruiting USA reported this past week that Curtis is taking a trip this weekend to the University of San Francisco, and he's also had an in-home visit with UNLV. Billy Bayno and his assistant coach David Rice were both in Southern California this past week, and visited with the Curtis family. Rice was also at the Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Showcase at Long Beach Millikan on Monday night, and then on Wednesday night, he and Bayno had their in-home visit with Curtis, and he's probably their No. 1 big-man target right now, and those who say Rockfish players only go to Cal shouldn't forget UNLV's other potential NBA player, another former Rockfish guy by the name of Dalron Johnson, who is doing well there, thank you. According to R-USA, Curtis has been offered by UNLV, but right now our own sources tell us that USF coach Phil Matthews is considered to have a slight edge, and it's possible Nick could commit after taking the visit this weekend to San Francisco, although we think he'd be wise to wait until he makes the trip to Vegas as well.

UNLV is also looking at other big men besides Curtis, but that's not all they're looking for. The Runnin' Rebels also want a shooter and a wing as well. UNLV's top two-guard prospect right now is probably Ernest Turner (6'-2" Sr. SG) from Somerdale, New Jersey, who played last spring with the same Pump N Run team at the Pump Easter Tournament as Jason Carter (6'-9" Sr. PF), who just turned down UNLV in favor of Colorado, which in turn is why Curtis is one of the Rebels' top big man targets. But the Carter-clan is not entirely out of the picture at UNLV, and our sources indicate that the coaches at UNLV are also focusing their sights on Jason's cousin, Justin Burns (6'-7" Sr. SF/SG) who also attends Bishop Gorman, and UNLV should be setting up an in-home visit with Justin shortly.