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UNM women's basketball coach Don Flanagan doesn't have to prove himself to New Mexicans.

Little girls throughout the Land of Enchantment know exactly what it means to be a Lobo.

But Flanagan is reaching a new level of fame when high school girls from Washington, South Dakota and Virginia swoon for a spot on his roster.

"I love it here," said Cydney Knight, a basketball standout about to enter her senior year in Richland, Wash. "They have great coaches, a great atmosphere to play in, and they win."

Knight was one of about 100 players who attended the position camp this week. While it remains popular among New Mexicans, the camp roster also included about 20 participants from outside the state.

"It's my favorite camp because we've developed it to the point that we bring in great talent and really get to work on the fundamentals," Flanagan said. "It's a good opportunity for recruits to see what our program is all about."

The camp's growing popularity mirrors the Lobos' image as a national power in women's basketball.

Although the University of Mexico still isn't a household name in every corner of the country or luring waves of blue-chip athletes, Flanagan is steadily broadening his recruiting base and finding players who could help the program bridge the gap between good and great.

"I came to the camp because I think they're awesome," said Kelsey Ansley, who is about to begin her senior year in Marble Falls, Texas. "There were so many girls here from all over the country who feel the same way. I know the Lobos are great, but knowing everyone else thinks they're cool, too, makes it pretty clear that I'm not wrong."

Flanagan had fewer than 10 season-ticket holders when he took over the women's program 11 years ago. His staff started out selling a dream to anyone who would listen, promoting the chance to be part of a program rising from the ashes.

Now he leads a nationally ranked team that has been to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments, picking up an elusive and important first-round win over Florida last season. Recruits are eager to be part of the winning tradition, and Flanagan's staff has the luxury of waiting to see a little more of each prospect before making offers to recruits.

"I've gotten offers from Colorado State and Kansas and have been recruited by Utah, Utah State and Princeton, but New Mexico is really high on my list," Knight said. "(Flanagan) said he wants to see a little more of my offense before they decide whether to offer me a scholarship, so I'm going to be working on that a lot before my AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournaments in July. I'm pretty sure I'd go here if I got an offer."

Cathy Cockrum, who is about to begin her senior season in Fairfax, Va., is an East Coast athlete sold on the Lobos.

"People I play with want to stay close to home, but I definitely want to go west, and I love New Mexico," she said.

"A lot of people don't know about the Lobos when I mention them back home, but I think that will change soon. They're ranked in the top 25, they get huge crowds, and they keep going to the NCAA Tournament. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?"

Perhaps one of the sweetest parts of Flanagan's success is that he has done it his way, emphasizing fundamentals. The camp consists mostly of drills and conditioning, with a little bit of scrimmaging thrown in to see how players apply the new concepts.

"I like that the coaches actually took the time to work with us and teach us some things," Knight said. "At a lot of other camps, all you do is scrimmage. I learned a lot and actually got better being here for a few days."

Amanda Best, a guard from Woodinville High in Washington about to begin her senior year, held a lofty spot among campers because she already orally committed to play for the Lobos.

She said the camp confirmed her belief that she belongs on the UNM campus and will have plenty of strong talent around her.

"There were a lot of really good girls here who could become my teammates," Best said. "People came here from all over the country and recognize the same thing I did when I first visited. It's really special to be a Lobo."