May 14, 2003

LAS VEGAS - Romel Beck, a 6-foot-7 wing player from Los Angeles City College, has signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UNLV and play basketball for the Runnin' Rebels next season, head coach Charlie Spoonhour announced Wednesday.

Beck, who will enroll at UNLV as a junior, led his team to a 36-2 overall record in 2002-03 and the California state championship title.

Beck averaged 15 points, five rebounds and four assists per game last season and earned first team All-South Coast Conference. He was on the state playoff all-tournament team and played in the national junior college all-star game.

"We are very pleased that Romel has decided to be part of our program," Spoonhour said. "I think his ability to score and make those around him better made him an attractive recruit for us. He comes from a highly successful program under Coach (Mike) Miller and he understands the dedication and sacrifice that is needed to win games. Romel's talents and skills will help provide the scoring on the perimeter that we need."

Beck is a graduate of Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where he was first team All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and averaged 25 ppg his senior season.

Beck is the second signing of the spring period for UNLV and joins Andy Hannan, a 6-6 swingman from Minneapolis (Minn.) Junior College, Chris Adams, a 6-10 center from City College of San Francisco, Michael Umeh, a 6-2 point guard from Hightower High School in Missouri City, Texas, and John Winston, a 6-3 guard from Hercules (Calif.) High School as incoming UNLV men's basketball players.