808LOBO
09-30-2007, 01:02 AM
LOBO MEN'S BASKETBALL Recruits Are Enjoying the Limelight
By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
They are 40 percent of the reason the University of New Mexico men's basketball program is in the national recruiting limelight.
And they are eating up the accolades.
"Man, it's unbelievable," said 6-foot-3 point guard Nate Garth, who along with 6-9 power forward Will Brown, were at Saturday's Lobo/BYU football game as part of their official recruiting trip. "To be mentioned in that company is incredible. But it also means there will be a lot of expectations."
Brown added, "I've never had people chant my name like this before. I feel real good about my decision to come here."
The two, along with 6-5 Texas shooting sensation Phillip McDonald, the Bronx's 6-4 Curtis Dennis and Houston's 6-9 Isaiah Rusher, have already made verbal commitments to sign with the Lobos in November. The quintet has given first-year Lobo coach Steve Alford the ninth best recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN.com.
"It's great for the program. We're excited about it," Alford said. "But rankings are rankings. Players still have to show up on campus and do the job in the classroom and do the job on the floor.
"Rankings don't always predict what's going to happen. But we do feel like we've got a great set of guys. We're very excited about the 2008 class.
Rusher was also slated to visit UNM this weekend, but has rescheduled for November.
"He had some school work to do, but he's excited to come in November," said Brown, who attends Patterson (N.C.) School with Rusher.
All five of the recruits who have committed to UNM have ties to Lobo assistant Chris Walker, who was an AAU coach in Houston before being hired by Alford in August.
Garth, who attends a prep school in Memphis, said Walker was the main reason he chose UNM. But he says his weekend trip "just makes me feel even better about my decision. I love it out here."
Brown, who made an unofficial visit to Albuquerque in June for a basketball camp, said the Lobo fans "are unbelievable. Basketball gets so much support, I can't wait until next season."
NCAA rules don't permit coaches to speak about recruits until receiving a signed a national letter of intent.
Alford, however, can speak about the ESPN.com rating. He said the exposure can only help with future recruiting, but it's not the only aspect of turning around a program that went 15-17 last season and tied for last in the Mountain West Conference.
"Everything we're doing, whether it's our future scheduling, we're doing things to get us out there nationally," Alford said. "... Anything to get us out there nationally is essential to building this thing.
"... The staff's done a great job. I'm very pleased with that... It's one thing to work hard, it's another thing to work hard and finish. This staff has been able to do that."
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/598739sports09-30-07.htm
By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
They are 40 percent of the reason the University of New Mexico men's basketball program is in the national recruiting limelight.
And they are eating up the accolades.
"Man, it's unbelievable," said 6-foot-3 point guard Nate Garth, who along with 6-9 power forward Will Brown, were at Saturday's Lobo/BYU football game as part of their official recruiting trip. "To be mentioned in that company is incredible. But it also means there will be a lot of expectations."
Brown added, "I've never had people chant my name like this before. I feel real good about my decision to come here."
The two, along with 6-5 Texas shooting sensation Phillip McDonald, the Bronx's 6-4 Curtis Dennis and Houston's 6-9 Isaiah Rusher, have already made verbal commitments to sign with the Lobos in November. The quintet has given first-year Lobo coach Steve Alford the ninth best recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN.com.
"It's great for the program. We're excited about it," Alford said. "But rankings are rankings. Players still have to show up on campus and do the job in the classroom and do the job on the floor.
"Rankings don't always predict what's going to happen. But we do feel like we've got a great set of guys. We're very excited about the 2008 class.
Rusher was also slated to visit UNM this weekend, but has rescheduled for November.
"He had some school work to do, but he's excited to come in November," said Brown, who attends Patterson (N.C.) School with Rusher.
All five of the recruits who have committed to UNM have ties to Lobo assistant Chris Walker, who was an AAU coach in Houston before being hired by Alford in August.
Garth, who attends a prep school in Memphis, said Walker was the main reason he chose UNM. But he says his weekend trip "just makes me feel even better about my decision. I love it out here."
Brown, who made an unofficial visit to Albuquerque in June for a basketball camp, said the Lobo fans "are unbelievable. Basketball gets so much support, I can't wait until next season."
NCAA rules don't permit coaches to speak about recruits until receiving a signed a national letter of intent.
Alford, however, can speak about the ESPN.com rating. He said the exposure can only help with future recruiting, but it's not the only aspect of turning around a program that went 15-17 last season and tied for last in the Mountain West Conference.
"Everything we're doing, whether it's our future scheduling, we're doing things to get us out there nationally," Alford said. "... Anything to get us out there nationally is essential to building this thing.
"... The staff's done a great job. I'm very pleased with that... It's one thing to work hard, it's another thing to work hard and finish. This staff has been able to do that."
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/598739sports09-30-07.htm