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UNM men's basketball: Recruit leaning toward Lobos

By Jeremy Fowler
Saturday, April 21, 2007

Monquel Pegues is a self-proclaimed "banger" who says he tries to reach the foul line at least four times a game and scores well with his back to the basket.

Sounds like one of the University of New Mexico's invisible players from last season.

Surely the Lobos could use the skills Pegues - a 6-foot-10, 256-pound beast out of Cape Fear (N.C.) Community College - says he possesses.

On paper, he's right. Pegues, who is making his official visit to UNM this weekend, averaged 18.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season at Cape Fear.

The rest he'd have to prove as a Lobo, which the big-bodied center said could happen soon enough.

"New Mexico is where I'm leaning, but my coach (Ryan Mantlo) and my high school coach told me to go on all my visits and take my time," Pegues said. "Then I'll make a decision."

New coach Steve Alford is targeting Pegues after persuading three 2007 recruits in recent weeks. Indiana guard Dairese Gary and 6-8 junior college forward Johnnie Harris already have signed, while four-star high school guard Darrington Hobson out of Illinois said Thursday he plans to sign with the Lobos.

Pegues, who previously visited South Carolina State, said he also plans to make trips to UTEP and Arkansas-Little Rock.

Earning honorable mention All-American honors in the junior college ranks has Pegues feeling confident about his transition to Division I ball, he said.

If anything would deflate his confidence at UNM, it likely wouldn't be a lack of playing time.

With 6-11 Derek Oestreicher leaving the program, 6-9 Daniel Faris is the only true post player returning from last year's roster.

"I know I could step in there and play right away," Pegues said. "Coach Alford and (assistant coach Craig) Neal have talked to me a lot, and they're recruiting me because they think I can help the team."

Oestreicher: The former Lobos redshirt freshman could end up with the coach who recruited him.

Former UNM coach Ritchie McKay told The Tribune he's recruiting 6-foot-11 Derek Oestreicher to his new school, Liberty, but declined further comment.

A coach can't describe a player until after that player signs a letter of intent.

A University of New Mexico source said Oestreicher is making the move to Lynchburg, Va.

Oestreicher's parents declined comment Friday when reached in Shasta Lake, Calif., where Oestreicher was a star at Liberty Christian High School.

Local player: Nobody was going to tell Silvey Dominguez during his interview for the director of basketball operations position that he didn't have enough experience.

Dominguez, officially announced Friday as a member of Alford's staff, has been an assistant coach at four different Mountain West Conference schools - Wyoming, Utah, Colorado State and Air Force.

And now the Grants native has returned home. Dominguez graduated from UNM in 1977, which could help connect Alford's staff with the city.

"I like the fact that he is a New Mexico graduate and knows this area really well," Alford said in Friday's news release. "He has been in the Mountain West Conference a long time and he has been with really good coaches and programs."