Joe Boyd commits

The New Mexico State men's basketball team got a big verbal from Phoenix area big man Joe Boyd.  Boyd is a 2013 prospect who is playing with the Arizona Aces this summer. Sam Esposito, a 5-8 guard and Boyd's AAU and high school teammate at Chaparral.

Here is my story in the Sun-News.

Boyd would fill an immediate need in the post and on the wing for the Aggies, who lose Wendell McKines following this season.

"I was a post up player when I started but have been working on bigger and better things like handling the  ball and shooting and at 6-9, that comes in handy," Boyd said. "I can handle the ball and I can shoot the 3 pretty well."

A 16-year-old, NMSU was one of two offers this early with an offer from Weber State. He also went on unofficial visits to UNLV and USC this summer.

Charles Gosa is the last Phoenix product I can think of to play for the Aggies. Actually some of you told me that on a previous post. Following are some some comments from Boyd's AAU coach, BJ Letcher, starting with Phoenix as a hoops recruiting ground.

"The Phoenix area, you would expect a lot more players because it has the population, but basketball wise, more people like myself are moving into the valley and training kids in basketball and it has started to get on the rise in the last 10 years. Baseball is huge here and the other outdoor sports are better in Arizona. I wouldn't call it a hotbed yet but more Division I players are starting to come through."

Marvin Menzies as a recruiter and why Boyd committed early
"New Mexico State was on Joe very early. (Menzies) was one of the first coaches who really saw Joe and that factors into his decision. ... I think it depends on the kid and what the kid is looking for but the relationship with the coach really played a big factor to do it so early. A lot of kids get wrapped up in the school and where they are going to play that they lose focus on the No. 1 factor, which is the relationship with the coach."