Making Some Noise in Albuquerque

[Mark]

Making Some Noise in Albuquerque http://media.scout.com/media/a/scouthoops/premium.gif http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/45/456565.jpg

By Jim Ganzer, "IWB" (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Jim Ganzer,)
MarquetteHoops.com
Posted Sep 19, 2007



Over the summer coaches scurry around the nation from one AAU tournament to another, making sure they see their top targets, but to find one of those infamous ‘hidden gems’. One of those gems that caught the eye of several coaches was Chad Adams, a 6’5, '09 SG from Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.




This is a pay article so you have to have a member ship to view it. No mention of UNM.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=2&c=681365

[Catcus Jim]

Question; When reading boards of other schools, the subject of having in-state talent on the roster is often the subject of debate. How important is it for the fans ( or at least the posters here ) of the Lobos to have in-state talent on the roster? The 08 -09 roster will have two ( Faris & Toppert ) from NM.

[judas_priest]

All other things being equal (which, unfortunately, they never are) I would like to see UNM recruit locally. But if we are going to be a national power we can't afford to be too localized. Also, there is a downside to recruiting marginal players from NM. (That is, they would be role players at best) - if there is a history of that when a really good local player arises, he might fear that that is the way the coaches would view him, and opt for another school where he feels he would get more PT.

[Yakkacat25]

All other things being equal (which, unfortunately, they never are) I would like to see UNM recruit locally. But if we are going to be a national power we can't afford to be too localized. Also, there is a downside to recruiting marginal players from NM. (That is, they would be role players at best) - if there is a history of that when a really good local player arises, he might fear that that is the way the coaches would view him, and opt for another school where he feels he would get more PT.

I agree with JP. For example Jerryd Bayless McDonalds All American is a kid UOFA couldn't say no to! I'd love to see local kids in NM play for UNM. Like Coach Walker said UNM has to get the best players they can. Although kids like Taylor, Adams, and Blount are pretty all good D1 Prospects. I think Coach Ross Romero has done a fantastic job in getting these kids into college and preparing them for it.

[Garishwolf]

Are these guys/guy 09ers or 10ers? For the opera eh RICK? TENERS, oh well.

My bad, I saw it 09......sheeeez.


BAD GARISH, BAD.

[Bloo]

I've always had a special fondness for the NM products... Banks, Brown, Olney, Walters... all some of my all-time favorites. I think it's important to keep the locals home when they are legitimate d-1 players. They often have that special drive to succeed because they're playing in front of the hometown crowd that the intangibles make them natural crowd favorites- kind of a vicious cycle in a good way.

I hope we can keep one or both of the Highland guys home, but at the very least I hope that the locals feel UNM is receptive to them and is interested, even if players from home aren't coming here in regular intervals. I think having a couple of NM guys on the team most times accomplishes that, or at least I hope it does.

[Roob]

Sounds like Chad is eager to spread his wings outside of his hometown. It happens. We benefit from that when we pick up kids from Houston who could otherwise have attended a school in their backyard or closer to home.

[loborick]

I've always had a special fondness for the NM products... Banks, Brown, Olney, Walters... all some of my all-time favorites. I think it's important to keep the locals home when they are legitimate d-1 players. They often have that special drive to succeed because they're playing in front of the hometown crowd that the intangibles make them natural crowd favorites- kind of a vicious cycle in a good way.

I hope we can keep one or both of the Highland guys home, but at the very least I hope that the locals feel UNM is receptive to them and is interested, even if players from home aren't coming here in regular intervals. I think having a couple of NM guys on the team most times accomplishes that, or at least I hope it does.

They have always been my faves also. There's just a special connection with a local player. But it looks like SA has taken recruiting to a higher level. It is going to take higher level NM players to be able to get on the team. We probably get one every two or. three years. Hopefully the local programs can put more out.

[Loboexpat]

IMO, you always want to be able to recruit your backyard and like Rick and Bloo said, those players have been some of my faves.

It's not uncommon for teams that aren't located in recruiting hotbeds to have many players from out of state. It just happens, even for some powerhouse programs. The diff is, they get their fair share of the local blue chips that come up.

I would hope that local kids would at least give UNM a serious look, especially with the staff and talent that has been brought in. I also don't blame kids for wanting to go out and experience something different.

[Burro lobo]

I feel the same expat, we need to keep those extra specials home if we can, the kid that went to Duke would have played big time here and might have got a chance at the next level, Dolinski sp? I think, but still he has that NCAA championship ring forever, that will salve a lot of bench sores!!!

[Garishwolf]

Willie Banks, my favirite.

[Loboexpat]

I feel the same expat, we need to keep those extra specials home if we can, the kid that went to Duke would have played big time here and might have got a chance at the next level, Dolinski sp? I think, but still he has that NCAA championship ring forever, that will salve a lot of bench sores!!!

And I think you hit on something, as well. Winning, championships, sending guys to the league, that kind of stuff will do its own recruiting for the program. If SA and company can translate the recruiting buzz into wins on the court. I think you will see more players giving UNM a serious look in the future.