Mark
09-10-2007, 10:44 AM
Texas basketball standout's trip to University of New Mexico was positive
By Iliana Limón (http://abqtrib.com/staff/iliana-limon/) (Contact (http://abqtrib.com/staff/iliana-limon/contact/))
Monday, September 10, 2007
http://abqtrib.com/news/2007/sep/10/texas-basketball-standouts-trip-university-new-mex/
The Lobos aren't done courting elite Texas basketball star Phillip McDonald.
University of New Mexico men's basketball coaches put on their best show for McDonald, who made his official visit to the school during the weekend.
The coaches will follow up with a home visit Tuesday.
"They want to make sure we don't forget them, and they can answer any questions we didn't ask during the visit," said Terrance Hatton, McDonald's older brother who is handling recruiting phone calls so the senior can focus on basketball.
First-year UNM coach Steve Alford won't be the only one chatting up McDonald this week.
Oregon coaches will be visiting his home Wednesday, and McDonald visits Kansas next weekend. He is slated to visit Oregon the first weekend in October. Oklahoma and Connecticut round out McDonald's top five.
"I think he will set up some other visits after the first three, but he could surprise us all and make a decision early," Hatton said. "Right now, he's still keeping the visits he has scheduled. He hasn't made a decision yet, but he will make one by the early signing period in November, so he doesn't have to worry about it during basketball season."
McDonald is getting a ton of attention because many believe the Houston-area standout is the type of player who could change a program, especially one UNM's size.
He is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard who is entering his senior season at Cypress Springs High near Houston. McDonald played on the T-Mac All-Stars, a team coached by new UNM assistant Chris Walker.
McDonald is rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals ranked him the 87th best senior in the country, while Scout lists him as the 18th best shooting guard.
"The coaches at New Mexico made it clear they care about Phillip and helping him become the best man he can be, which is the same thing his family really wants," Hatton said.
Of course, the Lobos also promised to make McDonald a star.
"They made it clear he would be the face of the program and would have a chance to play immediately," Hatton said. "I'm sure he loved that. Every kid wants to hear they will be a star."
Hatton said McDonald enjoyed the time he spent with the Lobos and fellow recruit Curtis Dennis, who already orally committed to UNM.
McDonald also was a T-Mac All-Stars teammate of Isiah Rusher and Will Brown, who also have committed to the Lobos.
"He thinks Curtis is hilarious and had a great time hanging out with him," Hatton said. "He also knows Isiah and Will, so I'm sure that will help his decision.
"He felt really comfortable everywhere he went, which was another thing we wanted out of the visit."
McDonald watched the men's basketball team's informal shirts and skins scrimmage, then caught the UNM football team's win over rival New Mexico State.
"The fans definitely knew who he was, and he appreciated all the attention," Hatton said.
The family also enjoyed the attention from UNM coaches.
"We trust more of what they've been telling us because we could sit down with them face-to-face," Hatton said. "You could tell they had a genuine interest in Phillip's well-being beyond just making him a great basketball player. They want him to get a good education."
Hatton said he couldn't think of anything negative that emerged during the visit.
He added the UNM coaches, fans and rivalry football game were great, but they weren't the most impressive part of the visit.
"We couldn't stop talking about the weather," Hatton said. "We loved it. The weather was just so nice, and it seems like such a great place to live."
By Iliana Limón (http://abqtrib.com/staff/iliana-limon/) (Contact (http://abqtrib.com/staff/iliana-limon/contact/))
Monday, September 10, 2007
http://abqtrib.com/news/2007/sep/10/texas-basketball-standouts-trip-university-new-mex/
The Lobos aren't done courting elite Texas basketball star Phillip McDonald.
University of New Mexico men's basketball coaches put on their best show for McDonald, who made his official visit to the school during the weekend.
The coaches will follow up with a home visit Tuesday.
"They want to make sure we don't forget them, and they can answer any questions we didn't ask during the visit," said Terrance Hatton, McDonald's older brother who is handling recruiting phone calls so the senior can focus on basketball.
First-year UNM coach Steve Alford won't be the only one chatting up McDonald this week.
Oregon coaches will be visiting his home Wednesday, and McDonald visits Kansas next weekend. He is slated to visit Oregon the first weekend in October. Oklahoma and Connecticut round out McDonald's top five.
"I think he will set up some other visits after the first three, but he could surprise us all and make a decision early," Hatton said. "Right now, he's still keeping the visits he has scheduled. He hasn't made a decision yet, but he will make one by the early signing period in November, so he doesn't have to worry about it during basketball season."
McDonald is getting a ton of attention because many believe the Houston-area standout is the type of player who could change a program, especially one UNM's size.
He is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard who is entering his senior season at Cypress Springs High near Houston. McDonald played on the T-Mac All-Stars, a team coached by new UNM assistant Chris Walker.
McDonald is rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals ranked him the 87th best senior in the country, while Scout lists him as the 18th best shooting guard.
"The coaches at New Mexico made it clear they care about Phillip and helping him become the best man he can be, which is the same thing his family really wants," Hatton said.
Of course, the Lobos also promised to make McDonald a star.
"They made it clear he would be the face of the program and would have a chance to play immediately," Hatton said. "I'm sure he loved that. Every kid wants to hear they will be a star."
Hatton said McDonald enjoyed the time he spent with the Lobos and fellow recruit Curtis Dennis, who already orally committed to UNM.
McDonald also was a T-Mac All-Stars teammate of Isiah Rusher and Will Brown, who also have committed to the Lobos.
"He thinks Curtis is hilarious and had a great time hanging out with him," Hatton said. "He also knows Isiah and Will, so I'm sure that will help his decision.
"He felt really comfortable everywhere he went, which was another thing we wanted out of the visit."
McDonald watched the men's basketball team's informal shirts and skins scrimmage, then caught the UNM football team's win over rival New Mexico State.
"The fans definitely knew who he was, and he appreciated all the attention," Hatton said.
The family also enjoyed the attention from UNM coaches.
"We trust more of what they've been telling us because we could sit down with them face-to-face," Hatton said. "You could tell they had a genuine interest in Phillip's well-being beyond just making him a great basketball player. They want him to get a good education."
Hatton said he couldn't think of anything negative that emerged during the visit.
He added the UNM coaches, fans and rivalry football game were great, but they weren't the most impressive part of the visit.
"We couldn't stop talking about the weather," Hatton said. "We loved it. The weather was just so nice, and it seems like such a great place to live."