Jonathan Gibson

Former Aggie guard Jonathan Gibson told me in the spring that he would play for the Boston Celtics in NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas and Orlando. The Orlando league takes place July 9-13 and the Vegas league runs from July 13-22. I asked Gibson a few questions about his career in Europe since leaving New Mexico State after the 2010 season.


"The team I played for this year is Trabzonspor (Turkey). I led the country in scoring with 20 ppg 3.7 ast 2.5 rebounds. Turkey is the most physical league in the world. Now I'm currently in Italy on Enel Brindisi. We're in the playoffs. We swept the first team 3-0, Here I avgerage 22 ppg 3.3ast 2.8 reb. How the clubs work in Europe, well some teams are professional and some teams aren't, some teams pay on time or are late, but it's a good atmosphere, they have crazy fans, but it's a good experience here. The top countries are Turkey/Spain both of those are arguably first, then Russia/Italy. I signed a one year deal (its finished now), I have a new contract for this team for the playoffs."




How did Boston come about?
"Boston contacted my agent saying they have been watching me all year, and they like how I play the pick and roll , and the speed/aggressiveness.  This will be the first summer league action I will be attending , because last year there was a NBA lockout. This is real big for my career, it shows that the NBA has interest in me and they are giving me an opportunity to make it."


What kind of a player are you now compared to your college career?
"My game has improved a lot since my NMSU days. I could have done the same thing I'm doing now in college, I'm way more aggressive, I'm mastering the pick and roll game, I create a lot more for myself and for other people, I play more physical/tougher,  I have a better understanding of the game. Overall I'm more effective than I was in college. This has been my best year in my career so far. Its just the beginning"

Recruiting recap, so far

Here is my story on New Mexico State signees Matej Buovac and Kevin Aronis.

Aronis adds some level of experience to a young backcourt, so I liked the fact that the Aggies went to the junior college ranks to grab him, thanks in large part to assistant Keith Brown.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Aggies don't find a way to add another guard to add some additional depth.

The Aggies are also in the mix for former UTEP commit Anthony January and 6-7 Rashaun Stimage out of Chicago, although if they were to land in Las Cruces, we probably wouldn't see them until the following season. January reportedly has said that he was going to attend prep school and reclassify as a 2013 prospect.

Kevin Aronis interview

Remember Paris Carter?

Probably not, but Carter was the only junior college player to play for Marvin Menzies, albeit briefly.

Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore Kevin Aronis joined the Aggies to add 3-point shooting to a young roster with size.

"Kevin is a first for me in a way so obviously I must be high on him," Menzies said. "He is not just a set shooter. He was a key target on his team whenever they played."

Aronis was a 40-percent shooter from 3-point range last year. At 6-foot-3, Aronis used a combination of basketball IQ and a quick release to get free.

"People were not leaving him," said Santa Rosa coach Craig McMillan. "He gets his shot off quick and he shoots it from deep."

Going the junior college route helped Aronis improve from a Division II prospect to a likely shooting specialist at the Division I level.

“It was the same style of play but I won’t be the second leading scorer (at NMSU),” Aronis said. “I do have a pretty quick release  and I have some loft to my shot if there is a defender there. You have to be able to read defenses and find the gaps. All of those things combined to help me get open.”

Adding a junior college makes sense for next  year's team. The Aggies have young players in the backcourt so perhaps a player such as Aronis can not only help right away, but provide some stability to a team that normally goes through some growing pains early in the season.

"I played against a lot of good players who are going Division I," Aronis said. "That makes it easier maybe than a high school guy. I don't think I would have handled it well coming out of high schoool but I think I will handle the transition better as a junior."

Aronis came to Las Cruces on a visit in late March and was on the verge of landing an offer at Sam Houston State. Sacramento State wanted him to walk on but a recent NCAA Tournament appearance made the decision easy.

Aronis graduates with an Associates Degree and will come to NMSU for the second session of summer school. He said he is leaning towards a communications degree and wants to coach after he's done playing.

Aronis said the Aggies seemed like a family oriented program when he came to campus, which was important for him. Aronis has been around his family up until now, as he played for nearby Analy High School before playing at Santa Rosa.

"It was really easy since I had been playing open gym against those guys since I was in high school. Going to New Mexico, I'm kind of ready to go out on my own. I'm a little nervous but I think I'm ready to handle it fine."

Matej Buovac interview

Croatian international Matej Buovac was recruited to New Mexico State to add 3-point shooting, but the Aggies also added leadership when they landed the 6-7 shooter from La Lumiere Prep. Here are a few comments from Buovac, starting with his experience at the international level, where he has played twice in the Euro Championships. Regardless of what he may be able to add from a shooting perspective, Buovac has played a lot of basketball for a kid who turns 19 on June 5.

Most recently, Buovac captained the Croatia Under 18 team last summer. He also played on the U16 team.
"It was a pretty good experience and an honor for me. We lost in the quarterfinals to Spain, who won it all. We finshed eighth."

Buovac graduates from La Lumiere on May 25 and will travel home to Croatia. While he can play for his country again this summer for the U-20 team, Buovac said he is currently leaning toward coming to Las Cruces for the second summer session in June.
"I have next year to play as well. I think I should go (to NMSU) early because it's my first year in college and I want to get to know everybody and start working with the team. I'm leaning toward coming back earlier."

Buovac said he averaged around 10 points and shot 44 percent from 3 point range at La Lumiere. While the numbers don't jump off the page, consider the level of play. La Lumiere finished the season ranked No. 35 and played in the ESPN Rise Championships and was the only team to beat Findlay Prep during the season. Buovac said two of his teammates committed to Purdue, one to Indiana and 7-foot center Obij Aget committed to New Mexico.

Buovac has been in the US since August of last year. Schools reportedly interested in him were Bradley and Tulane and he had an offer from UAB.

"No. 1, was the coaching staff. Marvin Menzies showed me the most love. He came to my prep school two times to see me and Indiana is a long ways from Las Cruces. Second and most important, the basketball program is a winning team and that was important to me that they won the conference and went to the NCAAs."

Rather than stay in Croatia, Buovac came to the US via Dave Maravilla, who helps place European players in the US.

"If I stayed back home, I could have signed a professional contract but I chose to come to the States like a lot of European players do. I could have continued my education if I would have stayed but it's very hard and I probably would have been average on both sides. In America, I can excel on both sides."

Buovac came to visit for a NMSU home game against Hawaii, where it became apparent to him that he could contribute at this level.

"Shooting is my forte and that's why they recruited me," he said. "When I was watching the Hawaii game, they are a high major team athletically but they just needed somebody to hit shots and help spread the defense."

With the loss of three seniors, the Aggies will have a lot of youth on the roster next year. During his visit, Buovac said he spent the most time with redshirts KC Ross Miller and Sim Bhullar.

"It was a gameday so I wasn't hanging out with players so much, but KC and Sim gave me some background. I like that I can come in and contribute in my freshman year."

NMSU signs a pair of shooters

On one day, the Aggies have matched the number of quote unquote shooters they had from a year ago.

NMSU signed 6-7 Croatia international Matej Buovac, addressing a need for a shooter from the perimeter. Here is a link to a blog entry I wrote on the young man prior to a visit he made to NMSU during the season.

Seems like a wing player with size, likely to contribute as a spot shooter off the bench. I believe that leaves the Aggies with one remaining scholarship.

Also joining the fold is Santa Rosa Junior College shooter Kevin Aronis, who averaged 12.3 points per game and shot 40 percent from 3-point range.  Aronis is interesting because he's the first junior college player to sign with the Aggies under Marvin Menzies. It shows the glaring weakness as the team gets ready for next  year.

Bandja Sy, Eric Weary, today's signees. While none are proven Division I shooters, the Aggies can ride one or two with the hot hand throughout the course of a game. Just my impression of the addition without ever seeing them play.

Menzies sticking around for now

LAS CRUCES — Multiple sources have confirmed that New Mexico State men’s head basketball coach Marvin Menzies has withdrawn his name from the list of candidates to become Colorado State’s next head coach.




Along the same lines, I wrote an email to Mike Martin because of the link to Menzies, and here is what he wrote back to me. 

"Marvin is certainly a viable candidate as is Reggie Theus. In all likelihood we'll pursue a candidate or candidates with Louisiana connections. Several have been the subject of initial consideration.

We will probably resolve our coaching situation by early next week. I hope Marvin stays at NMSU but he will succeed wherever he goes."

CSU would be a logical next stop for Menzies

Personally, I was a bit surprised when Marvin Menzies' name was linked to Tim Miles old job at Colorado State. I thought perhaps Menzies was another year or two away from moving up the coaching ladder but getting to the NCAA's twice in three years will no doubt get him noticed.

Reports are out that Colorado State AD Jack Graham likely reached out to Menzies in New Orleans last weekend. The school hired JMI Sports for 75,000 to help conduct its coaching search.

Colorado State is good job with more resources.  The school paid another search firm $250000 to help hire football coach Jim McElwain.  McElwain signed at CSU for $1.5 million.

Miles made $500,000 last year while Menzies was in the $300,000 range last year. When his contract was extended prior to last season, receiving more money was simply not an option according to NMSU officials. Even if NMSU were able to come up with additional money, could the school near the half-million mark?

Doubtful.

Southern Miss head man Larry Eustachy, New Mexico assistant Craig Neal, and Weber State coach Randy Rahe, a man with CSU ties are also believed to be candidates for the position. Menzies has not interviewed but the CSU AD expects to name a coach in the next week.

Tough economic times at NMSU make it possible to believe Menzies is looking forward to the next stage of his career. NMSU coaches are expected to raise a required amount of money fundraising. In a conversation with Menzies early last season, he said he probably spends about 20 hours per week at certain periods throughout the year fundraising. He's good at it. But while it may not be unheard of at other schools, larger programs likely don't put such demands on the head coach.

Menzies has done about as well as a coach at NMSU can be expected. Put his team in contention for the WAC every year and get to the NCAA once every two or three years. I believe he likes it at NMSU  but there are stiff challenges here facing any coach. CSU would make sense.