March 4, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Five players have signed national letters of intent to play men's soccer for UNLV starting in the fall of 2008, while the Rebels will also add two mid-semester transfers, UNLV head coach Mario Sanchez announced on Tuesday.

UNLV adds three players from Las Vegas, as well as two from California, one from Arizona and one from Colorado. "We have added players that are going to make us a very deep team," said Sanchez. "We now possess two quality players at every position and it will make all the players that much better as they compete on a daily basis for playing time with each other."

First is a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, 5-10 defender Drew Gleason, who will be a sophomore for the Rebels as he redshirted one year before playing for the Gauchos in 2006. A Merced, Calif., native, Gleason played at Buchach Colony High School, where he was a four-year letter winner and four-year team MVP as well. Gleason was also a three-year member of the Olympic Development Regional Team. "Gleason has a great left foot and his ability to get in the attack will add another dimension to our team," said Sanchez. "He is a great competitor and hates to lose."

The second transfer is Allen Hardison, a 6-4 defender who comes to UNLV after attending San Francisco in the fall, and will be a freshman athletically for UNLV. Hailing from Newport Beach, CA, Hardison was a two-time member of the California South Olympic Development team and also a member of the Super Y League National Team. "I recruited Allen when I first got here to UNLV," said Sanchez. "I am really happy that he has decided to transfer to us and become a Rebel. He has great feet and composure for a big man, and has the chance for a great future here at UNLV."

The next two players were both teammates at Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz., and led Yavapai to the 2007 NJCAA National Division I Championship. First is Francis Khamis, a 6-3 forward who led Yavapai in scoring this past season. Originally from Sudan, he moved to Maine while in high school and then spent the last two years in Las Vegas before heading to Yavapai College. "We have added one of the top forwards in the country with Khamis," said Sanchez. "Khamis has the ability to change a game on his own and owns the tools to take his game to the highest level."

The second player from Yavapai is 5-8 midfielder Camilo Valencia. Team captain for Yavapai in 2007, he tied the team record at Yavapai for most career games started. Camilo was born and raised in Cali, Columbia and came to the U.S. in 2006. "Camilo is a winner and a leader. He has been the most consistent player for one of the top junior college programs in the country for the last two years. He comes from a great background of soccer in Columbia. We are looking forward to having Camilo with us," said Sanchez.

Mike Mota is one of two local high school products signed by UNLV. A 6-2 defender, he was a three-year letter-winner for Chaparral High, and was also a four-time state club champion for the Neusport Soccer Club. "Each time we watched Mota play we really felt that he is going to be able to step in and help us," said Sanchez. "He has a very good left foot and is strong in the air. I feel that we signed one of the top defenders available this year.".

Joe Mora is the second local player signed by UNLV. The 5-11 goalkeeper from Silverado High is a four-time letterwinner and won a state championship with Silverado in 2004. During his four years he compiled an impressive 79-9-7 record and was the 2007 Sunrise Region MVP. Mora is also a teammate of Mota with the Neusport Soccer Club and was a teammate of current Rebel, Richard Abrego. "Mora has great hands, is very quick and he has a very good understanding of the game," noted Sanchez."

Rounding out the 2008 recruiting class is Phoenix, Ariz., native Nicholas DeLeon, a 5-10 midfielder. A three-year starter for Thunderbird High, he was also a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) West Regional Team for the 90 age group, where he traveled with current UNLV member, Daniel Cruz, to Italy in the spring of 2007. DeLeon is also a member of the Cisco Torros Soccer Club in Phoenix, AZ. "DeLeon is a great signing for us," said Sanchez. "He has great feet and a true understanding of the game. A very composed player on the ball, he is going to really add a lot to us in the attacking half of the field."

"The year's recruiting class brings a wealth of winning experience to our program," said Sanchez. "We have been able to bring in players who are used to winning and expect to win. We have continued to bring in new players which will help the program grow and move forward in the right direction. After last season's success, we are excited about the 2008 season."