Dec. 5, 2001

LAS VEGAS - J.K. Edwards and James Peters have both signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UNLV and play basketball for the Runnin' Rebels beginning with the 2002-03 season, head coach Charlie Spoonhour has announced. Both players will enroll at UNLV as juniors.

Edwards, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound center from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, averaged 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season. He was selected as a first team All-America last year and played in the Tournament of the Americas in Argentina this past August (on the same team as current Runnin' Rebel Marcus Banks). Edwards chose UNLV over Wisconsin, Tennessee and Iowa State.

Peters, a 6-8, 215-pound forward from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, averaged 14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the floor last season. The second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection chose UNLV over Illinois, Michigan State and DePaul.

"We need interior scoring and to add some bulk on the defensive end," Spoonhour said. "These two players fit those needs well. They are both off to good starts this year and are the type of players we would like to see here at UNLV.

"J.K. is more of an inside player and he has a great touch on the baseline shooting the ball, while James is able to go out further from the basket and make things happen. Both players are in good programs, where they expect to win and have demanding coaches. They will fit right in here."