April 11, 2003

LAS VEGAS - UNLV men's basketball player Omari Pearson has requested and been granted his official release from the program, Runnin' Rebel head coach Charlie Spoonhour announced Friday.

Pearson, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Maywood, Ill., averaged 3.7 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game this past season as a junior. He appeared in 32 games, playing an average of 13.3 minutes per contest.

"Omari has been a positive contributor to our program," Spoonhour said. "He is a great example of what a student-athlete should be and we wish him all the best."

Pearson, who graduated from Crispus Attucks Charter School in York, Pa., also appeared in 32 games as a sophomore in 2001-02 and 12 games as a freshman in 2000-01. He averaged 3.6 ppg and 2.8 rpg his sophomore year and 1.5 ppg and 1.0 rpg his freshman season.

Pearson had season highs of nine points (twice) and six rebounds (at SDSU on Feb. 11) this past season and had career highs of 12 points (vs. Georgia Southern on Dec. 1, 2001) and eight rebounds (vs. Nicholls State on Nov. 20, 2001).

It is not known where Pearson intends to transfer.