2013 recruiting targets

Joe Boyd, a power forward prospect from Phoenix, is in town for an unofficial visit this weekend and has an offer from NMSU.

Has former NMSU coaches gone to Phoenix? I know former women's coach Darin Spence did. It seems like it would be a large talent pool in the region with players who could contribute once U of A and Arizona State find the top players.

The Aggies have also offered Clovis High point guard John Dawson.

Katz story on Troy Gillenwater

Katz writes that Gillenwater likely wouldn't have been eligible anyway, shedding a little more light on his reason for leaving.

After speaking with Marvin Menzies on Friday, Coach said Gillenwater was in good academic standing when he made his decision to leave. After leaving Las Cruces to prepare for workouts, that could have changed and put him in a situation where he would have had to play catch up had he decided to return. But at the time Troy put his name in, he was eligible according to NMSU.

Aggies WAC schedule

A couple other scheduling notes. The Aggies potentially open their home schedule on Nov. 19 against UTEP. I would like to see this every year if possible. The Aggies did it a couple years ago, opening at home with New Mexico. Opening the season at home against a rival is a good way to get the community into the season, hopefully winning. This particular year, UTEP seems beatable, especially early on in the season.

The Aggies also have a home-and-home during the conference slate with Cal-Bakersfield, going to Bakersfield Jan. 2 and hosting Bakersfield Feb. 1.

WAC schedule

Jan. 7 at Louisiana Tech
Jan. 12 vs. Utah State
Jan. 14 vs. Idaho
Jan. 19 at San Jose State
Jan. 21 at Hawaii
Jan. 26 vs. Nevada
Jan. 28 Fresno State
Feb. 4 vs. La. Tech
Feb. 9 at Idaho
Feb. 11 at Utah State
Feb. 18 Bracketbuster
Feb. 23 vs. Hawaii
Feb. 25 vs. San Jose State
March 1 at Fresno State
March 3 at Nevada

A couple personnel notes

Abdoulaye N'doye is leaving New Mexico State to play at Division II Oklahoma Panhandle State. N'doye had one year of eligibility left after spending two years in Las Cruces. Since he's transferring from a Division I school, I assume he will be able to play right away.

N'doye wanted to go somewhere he could contribute since he rarely saw the court as an Aggie with the frontcourt players who were in front of him.

Temjae Singleton, who committed to NMSU early, will redshirt this season and will not be on scholarship. Following is my best guess at the scholarship players for next season.

Hamidu Rahman SR

Hernst Laroche SR

Wendell McKines SR

Bandja Sy JR
Tyrone Watson JR
BJ West JR
KC Ross-Miller SO
Christian Kabongo SO
Chili Nephawe SO
Renaldo Dixon SO
Remi Barry FR
Eric Weary FR
Daniel Mullings FR
Terrell de Rouen Could earn scholarship
Temjae Singleton Redshirt
Emory Coleman Redshirt

Mick Durham to be named head coach at Alaska Fairbanks

After three seasons as an assistant at NMSU, Mick Durham is the new head coach at Division II Alaska Fairbanks.

Durham, who was traveling with his family in Hawaii, said he still needed to sign a contract. He interviewed Friday and said he had been offered the job on Sunday.

I should have more on this later today.

Way too early predictions

I'm bored. With boredom comes the following blog entry.

Following is my first, second and third team offering comprised of players we know will be returning next year. Freshmen and transfers are not included in this particular list. We will do that closer to the season.

First team
C — Dario Hunt, Nevada
PF — Wendell McKines, NMSU
SF — Zane Johnson, Hawaii
SG — Malik Story, Nevada
PG — Deonte Burton, Nevada

Second team
C — Kyle Barone, Idaho
PF — Olek Czyz, Nevada
SF —Brandon Gibson, Louisiana Tech
SG — Keith Shamburger, San Jose State
PG — Hernst Laroche, NMSU

Third team
C — Vander Joaquim, Hawaii
PF —Chili Nephawe, NMSU
SF —Brady Jardine, Utah State
SG —Kevin Olekaibe, Fresno State
PG — Brokeith Pane, Utah State

So I think Nevada had four of the top 10 players in the WAC, but the Aggies have some depth there while Nevada drops off after those four, but I'm assuming each team has new players who will contribute.

Team predictions

1. Nevada
2. NMSU
3. Utah State
4. Hawaii
5. Idaho
6. Fresno State
7. San Jose State
8. Louisiana Tech

Mick Durham one of three finalists in Alaska

New Mexico State assistant Mick Durham is the final of three in-person interviews for the vacant Alaska-Fairbanks head coach position. Durham has connections in Alaska after his Montana State clubs would play in the Top of the World tournament in Fairbanks.

Durham was one of 65 applicants, six of which conducted interviews over skype last week before the three finalists were flown to Alaska. Durham's interview is Friday.

Fairbanks plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the Division II ranks. The job has been open for a month after Clemon Johnson took the Florida A&M job.

Should Durham leave, it's likely that Tom Lewis would assume a greater amount of responsibility. Gerald Lewis was also pursuing a position at alma mater SMU.