Nov. 9, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's basketball program has received a signed national letter of intent from Marcus Lawrence to enroll at UNLV and play basketball for the Runnin' Rebels starting with the 2006-07 season, head coach Lon Kruger announced Wednesday.

Lawrence, a 5-foot-11, 155-pound senior point guard from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, averaged 16 points, eight assists and three steals last season in helping the Gaels win the Nevada Class 4A state championship.

"Marcus is a tough competitor and an outstanding leader," Kruger said. "It really pleases us that he made the decision to stay in Las Vegas and play for his hometown university. He will bring an intensity and competitiveness that people will enjoy watching."

Last season, Lawrence was selected first team all-league, first team all-region and second team all-state.

"Marcus is just an overall leader on the floor for us and has been for the last three years," said Grant Rice, head coach at Bishop Gorman and a former Runnin' Rebel player. "He brings maturity and leadership to the court and he plans to continue that at UNLV. He is a very unselfish player and is always trying to make his teammates better."

Kruger added, "Being a member of the defending state champions, Marcus is used to winning and has developed very rapidly as a player under the direction of Coach Rice."