Wednesday, May 25, 2011

KC Ross-Miller

The Aggies have received a verbal from New Orleans transfer KC Ross-Miller. It's unclear when he will be eligible to play, but it's certainly an important addition to the Aggies as a backup point guard this year, something the Aggies haven't had the past two years, and a replacement after the departure of Hernst Laroche.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Gordo going pro

Gordo Castillo has agreed to play for Fuerza Regia of the Mexican league. The team is located in Monterrey and coached by former Aggie Reggie Jordan.

"It means a lot to me," Castillo said. "Playing in college was a big dream of mine. Since that ended, it has been kind of stressful because I want to keep playing."

Castillo, a Las Cruces native, said playing professionally grants him an opportunity to start a life outside of his hometown.

"It will be good to get out of town," he said. "I have been here my whole life. It's like a different chapter of my life."

Former Aggie guard Mike Mitchell also played for the club last year, so there was an Aggie connection, but no doubt what landed Castillo a contract was his ability to shoot the ball.

"I liked the way they approached me," Castillo said.

Castillo said other Mexican league teams had contacted him, but the Moterrey club was the best team (finishing second last year) with the best offer.

Friday, May 20, 2011

This is for anon 1 a.m. on the previous post

This post is for those who believe Remi Barry is the answer to all of the Aggies' problems. How does anyone know? Who has seen him play? When was the last time a freshman at NMSU made a major impact? If you want to put the pressure on a freshman to save the season, that's your opinion. I doubt the coaching staff shares that opinion however. This is how the Aggies will start the season.

C — Hamidu Rahman or Chili Nephawe.....not a huge difference
PF — Wendell McKines
SF — Tyrone Watson
SG — Christian Kabongo
PG — Hernst Laroche

As I wrote in my column last week, Barry, Weary or any player to be named later is going to have to contribute at some point next year for the Aggies to be a good team. You can't start a freshman over Watson, who started every game as a sophomore and what player on the current roster can shoot the 3? Unless we are talking about YouTube clips from high school or AAU games.

I also don't understand how people think the Aggies are just going to magically play defense? McKines has played defense and rebounded, CK and Hernst do when they feel like it. But they are going to have to do it  every night to replace a consistent 20 point per game scorer. If you feel like they can win scoring in the 60s all of a sudden, more power to you but you have to be realistic.

I wrote that the Aggies would win 26 games last year because I felt they had the type of team to do it. I have no problem talking the Aggies up if warranted. I feel differently about the upcoming squad.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

It's official. Gillenwater to forego senior season


Gillenwater to forego senior season at NMSU
By Jason Groves
LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State forward Troy Gillenwater will not return for his senior season with the Aggies.
On Sunday, the deadline for NCAA underclassmen to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft pool and return to school, Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said the redshirt junior power forward will keep his name in the NBA Draft.
“There was some back-and-forth but eventually it was the financial needs of his family,” Menzies said.

Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459 


Hope to have more later today

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Why Gillenwater will not be back

I've been operating, as many of you probably have, under the assumption that Troy Gillenwater will not return to NMSU next year.

Another reason is the recent visit of shooter type players, especially JUCO guard Marcell Holden , whom I hope the Aggies can bring in. Holden is like a Jonathan Gibson type shooter and body type. Gibson was better off the dribble. The reason I like Holden is he would be a bridge type player until the younger players Menzies has brought in develop. The Aggies need a shooter even if Gillenwater would return so going the JC route wouldn't hurt. I think that if Gillenwater were returning, Menzies wouldn't be considering a JC kid with his track record of bringing in freshmen.