Future Rebel leads Findlay Prep

February 19, 2009 by Sean Jaramillo 

Carlos Lopez looks forward to UNLV, teammate may follow

At the start, Findlay Prep looked like any other team, but showed their high caliber offense as the No. 2 (USA Today Super 25) Pilots beat Bishop Gorman, 88-63.

The Gaels held close for most of the game on Thursday, but the Pilots took off in the fourth quarter after future Rebel Carlos Lopez picked up nine points and five rebounds and UNLV recruit Victor Rudd scored 22 points and grabbed five boards.

Findlay Prep, the extension of Henderson International, has become a pipeline for UNLV. Freshman center Brice Massamba is an alumnus of the school and Lopez, who announced his intention to attend UNLV in November, will graduate in May.

The nationally-ranked program has all of its players being recruited by top programs because of Findlay’s strength as a program. Last year the Pilots lost in the Prep School Championship game.

“Playing at a high national level definitely will help Carlos in the future,” Findlay coach Mike Peck said. “These guys come from teams where they have to be ‘the guy.’ They no longer have that burden. They don’t have to always prove themselves, because they can trust their teammates.”

That trust has led the Pilots to an unblemished 28-0 record.

Lopez hopes to keep the championship caliber lifestyle at the Division-I level when he begins at UNLV in the fall. The Puerto Rico-native chose to play for the Rebels over West Virginia, Gonzaga and Oklahoma and said he was already excited for next season.

“I chose [UNLV] because of Kruger,” Lopez said. “I feel he gives the players the confidence to play the game.”

As for his teammate Rudd, Lopez said that he hopes his teammate joins him, but that he hasn’t made any decisions yet.

“I couldn’t say I don’t want Rudd [at UNLV],” Lopez said. “[Massamba] is already there, so if he decides to come, welcome to UNLV.”

Rudd, who is listed as the No. 28 small forward in the nation has been recruited by Arizona, Marquette, Memphis, Oregon State, Providence, South Florida, Gonzaga and UNLV. The three-star recruit has yet to offer any committment.