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Men's basketball: Lobos eager to land Texas guard

By Jeremy Fowler
Thursday, August 9, 2007

Phillip McDonald is getting the royal treatment from almost every angle of Albuquerque.

Four message boards are clamoring for the highly rated prospect to arrive for his official visit Sept. 7-9.

Every time there's an open contact period, University of New Mexico coach Steve Alford's staff has called McDonald, his brother Terrance Hatton, and mother Ann every day, Hatton said.

Maybe a united front of attention from Lobos faithful is necessary to outdistance Kansas in the battle for this top-100 guard.

"I still don't think he believes he's getting this much attention from New Mexico," Hatton told The Tribune on Wednesday. "I told him the other day that he needs to look online. Coach Alford has informed me that Phillip can come there and be the man. They really want him."

The month of September could determine UNM's future under the Alford regime. The 6-foot-5 McDonald, ranked No. 87 in the class of 2008 by Scout.com, visits the Jayhawks the week after his trip to Albuquerque.

Hatton, 31, will accompany his brother on every trip for guidance, like a spokesman for a player who is garnering a lot of attention since his strong summer play on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit. Kansas has offered a scholarship, Hatton said.

McDonald might also visit Oklahoma and Oregon, which have offered scholarships. Scout.com reports that Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Texas have also offered scholarships.

Despite the top-shelf competition, the Lobos have the advantage of Chris Walker, the new assistant who coached McDonald for two years on the Houston-based T-Mac All-Stars AAU team.

Former T-Mac player Isaiah Rusher, a 6-9 forward, has orally committed to UNM thanks largely to Walker. Will Brown, 6-8, is expected to follow his AAU teammate.

McDonald's strong relationship with Walker or anybody else won't persuade the adept 3-point shooter to make a hasty decision in August, Hatton said.

"Right now, it's wide open," said Hatton, a former football player at Texas State. "I believe Phillip will go on all his visits before he makes a decision and take his time. He wants to go to a place where he can win and he can play. I think his first visit is to UNM because he's familiar with the program and he really enjoyed the Lobo Elite Camp (in June). He still talks about that."

New recruit: A source in the UNM program said the Lobos are recruiting 6-3 junior college guard Kashif Watson, brother of former Tennessee star C.J. Watson.

The former Las Vegas prep star was headed to San Diego State before poor grades derailed his plans.

He played last season at Indian Hills (Iowa) Junior College, the same school Lobos guard Jamaal Smith attended.

Watson would be a 2008 signee, the source said.

Greg Hicks, Scout.com's West Coast recruiting analyst, said Watson is an athletically gifted guard with major scoring potential at the Division-I level.