’Topper Kirk To Visit Lobos By Mark Smith / Journal Reporter Monday, 07 September 2009 22:51 6-foot-10 senior also looking at Arizona, Maryland, UConn, others
Alex Kirk, one of the most highly-recruited high school basketball players to come out of the state in years, is scheduled to make an official recruiting visit with the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team this weekend. The 6-foot-10 Los Alamos senior is one of the country’s top-rated big men. He has had offers from big-name schools across the nation, but recently trimmed his list to a group of schools that includes UNM, according to his father Alan Kirk. “I don’t know if it’s close to a final five yet,” says Alan, who is also the head coach at Los Alamos High. “But he’s concentrating on the schools that are the most interested in him. I’d says that’s Oregon State, Arizona State, Arizona, UNM, West Virginia, UConn, Maryland, SMU, Minnesota, Texas and Arkansas.” Marty Saiz, Alex Kirk’s former AAU coach, says he remains in close contact with the Kirks and that he thinks New Mexico is high on the list. “He and his father have really taken a close look at everything in the recruiting process,” Saiz said. “I talk to them every week, and they feel pretty good about their final list. But there’s a chance Alex might just make this one official visit.” Saiz said that Kirk made an unofficial visit to Arizona last month. Kirk played for Saiz’s AAU program (then the Southwest Titans which has changed its name to the Danny Granger Hurricanes) last year and during one tournament this summer. Kirk then played for the elite Houston Hoops team the rest of the summer, and made even more of a national name for himself. Alan Kirk, who handles all media inquires about his son’s recruitment, told the Journal that Alex plans to make an official recruiting trip to Arizona in October. He said his son’s hope is to commit early and sign a national letter of intent in November. “That’s the goal, but I don’t know if he’ll make it,” said Alan, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico. “I’d like to see it over before the season begins, and not have to worry about it during the basketball season. But I don’t know.” Alex averaged nearly 28 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists a game for Los Alamos last year. Alan says Alex is about 6-10¼ — “6-11 with shoes.” He said Alex has “put on a little weight this summer” and is about 225 pounds. Kirk will need to beef up even more before starting his Division-I career, but various Web sites list him as one of the country’s top 10 post players. While not extremely athletic, Kirk is a great shooter for a big man and can knock down the 3-pointer. He is also very smooth around the basket, a strong rebounder and shot blocker and plays with a great amount of intensity and hustle. “He will flourish in a motion offense like UNM’s,” Saiz said. “I think he’s very underrated in terms of his passing; he’s a great passer. He can grab the rebound and make quick outlets to halfcourt better than most big men. “Because of his shooting, I think he will be a 4-man (power forward) in college. He just needs to get stronger, but I think he has the tools to make an impact in his first year.” Saiz says Kirk’s stock has risen this summer after a string of strong showings at summer AAU camps. “Alex has probably done more (as far as playing at national AAU tournaments) than anyone in the history of New Mexico,” Saiz says. “He played in the LeBron James Camp— for the top 80 players in the country — in the NBA Players Association Camp and the All-American Camp. He played in at least four of the most major camps in the country, and has had a great summer.” Alan Kirk says there is no one thing that will be the key factor in Alex’s eventual decision. “I cant really come up with one thing,” Alan says. “He wants a school that supports basketball, has a strong coaching staff, where he has an opportunity to play right away. He’s trying to look at academics, a good school where he’s comfortable.”
Well, it seems like NMSU is not even on his potential list ... I thought we would be all over this kid. Too bad. I hope he has some good success and makes NM proud!
He sounds really good. Arizona is my second favorite behind NM State; would be nice if he went to Tucson.
Football at NM State is proving to be a bust, as always. I'm really excited about the upcoming basketball season. I will definitely spend the money to travel to Las Cruces for basketball.
how could u say football is a bust? we lost one game...ONE. no one expected much this season anyway. give the coach some time and we will get better.guaranteed. as for the kirk kid...well it doesnt look very good. i just hope he doesnt go to unm.
NMSU offered Kirk, but there never seemed to be a lot of interest on either side. Frankly, Kirk doesn't fit into our system. I just hope he doesn't end up at UNM.
So the 10th best big man in the nation (according to rivals) doesn't fit our system? Wow, ok well tell me then, who does? Just who exactly is being recruited that could justify letting one of the most talented kids in the nation, who also happens to be in our own backyard? Hope whoever it is fits the system, because he might have to end up guarding Kirk for the next 4 years?
9 comments:
Can't read it Jason ... can you copy and paste?
Is Kirk thinking about attending NM State? I live out of state, so don't know who he is.
’Topper Kirk To Visit Lobos
By Mark Smith / Journal Reporter
Monday, 07 September 2009 22:51
6-foot-10 senior also looking at Arizona, Maryland, UConn, others
Alex Kirk, one of the most highly-recruited high school basketball players to come out of the state in years, is scheduled to make an official recruiting visit with the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team this weekend.
The 6-foot-10 Los Alamos senior is one of the country’s top-rated big men. He has had offers from big-name schools across the nation, but recently trimmed his list to a group of schools that includes UNM, according to his father Alan Kirk.
“I don’t know if it’s close to a final five yet,” says Alan, who is also the head coach at Los Alamos High. “But he’s concentrating on the schools that are the most interested in him. I’d says that’s Oregon State, Arizona State, Arizona, UNM, West Virginia, UConn, Maryland, SMU, Minnesota, Texas and Arkansas.”
Marty Saiz, Alex Kirk’s former AAU coach, says he remains in close contact with the Kirks and that he thinks New Mexico is high on the list.
“He and his father have really taken a close look at everything in the recruiting process,” Saiz said. “I talk to them every week, and they feel pretty good about their final list. But there’s a chance Alex might just make this one official visit.”
Saiz said that Kirk made an unofficial visit to Arizona last month.
Kirk played for Saiz’s AAU program (then the Southwest Titans which has changed its name to the Danny Granger Hurricanes) last year and during one tournament this summer. Kirk then played for the elite Houston Hoops team the rest of the summer, and made even more of a national name for himself.
Alan Kirk, who handles all media inquires about his son’s recruitment, told the Journal that Alex plans to make an official recruiting trip to Arizona in October. He said his son’s hope is to commit early and sign a national letter of intent in November.
“That’s the goal, but I don’t know if he’ll make it,” said Alan, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico. “I’d like to see it over before the season begins, and not have to worry about it during the basketball season. But I don’t know.”
Alex averaged nearly 28 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists a game for Los Alamos last year. Alan says Alex is about 6-10¼ — “6-11 with shoes.”
He said Alex has “put on a little weight this summer” and is about 225 pounds.
Kirk will need to beef up even more before starting his Division-I career, but various Web sites list him as one of the country’s top 10 post players.
While not extremely athletic, Kirk is a great shooter for a big man and can knock down the 3-pointer. He is also very smooth around the basket, a strong rebounder and shot blocker and plays with a great amount of intensity and hustle.
“He will flourish in a motion offense like UNM’s,” Saiz said. “I think he’s very underrated in terms of his passing; he’s a great passer. He can grab the rebound and make quick outlets to halfcourt better than most big men.
“Because of his shooting, I think he will be a 4-man (power forward) in college. He just needs to get stronger, but I think he has the tools to make an impact in his first year.”
Saiz says Kirk’s stock has risen this summer after a string of strong showings at summer AAU camps.
“Alex has probably done more (as far as playing at national AAU tournaments) than anyone in the history of New Mexico,” Saiz says. “He played in the LeBron James Camp— for the top 80 players in the country — in the NBA Players Association Camp and the All-American Camp. He played in at least four of the most major camps in the country, and has had a great summer.”
Alan Kirk says there is no one thing that will be the key factor in Alex’s eventual decision.
“I cant really come up with one thing,” Alan says. “He wants a school that supports basketball, has a strong coaching staff, where he has an opportunity to play right away. He’s trying to look at academics, a good school where he’s comfortable.”
Well, it seems like NMSU is not even on his potential list ... I thought we would be all over this kid. Too bad. I hope he has some good success and makes NM proud!
Does anybody know if coach Menzies has tried recruiting him/
He sounds really good. Arizona is my second favorite behind NM State; would be nice if he went to Tucson.
Football at NM State is proving to be a bust, as always. I'm really excited about the upcoming basketball season. I will definitely spend the money to travel to Las Cruces for basketball.
how could u say football is a bust? we lost one game...ONE. no one expected much this season anyway. give the coach some time and we will get better.guaranteed. as for the kirk kid...well it doesnt look very good. i just hope he doesnt go to unm.
NMSU offered Kirk, but there never seemed to be a lot of interest on either side. Frankly, Kirk doesn't fit into our system. I just hope he doesn't end up at UNM.
So the 10th best big man in the nation (according to rivals) doesn't fit our system? Wow, ok well tell me then, who does? Just who exactly is being recruited that could justify letting one of the most talented kids in the nation, who also happens to be in our own backyard? Hope whoever it is fits the system, because he might have to end up guarding Kirk for the next 4 years?
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