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Men's basketball: Lobos coach eyes skilled high schoolers at tourney
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The New Mexico Force had a rough week on the Athletic Amateur Union circuit, but it looks like the University of New Mexico might be winners at the Force's expense.
Six-foot-8 forward Ray Turner, one of the Force's top weapons during this week's Reebok Summer Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., attracted Lobos coach Steve Alford and his staff, Force coach Ross Romero said.
The Force, arguably New Mexico's top AAU team, lost four Vegas games by a combined 16 points.
The four-game losing streak didn't deter Turner, a 215-pound junior-to-be from Houston who averaged 13 rebounds and 9.5 points per game against top-shelf teams from California (Play Hard, Play Smart), Minnesota (Mokan Players) and New York (Donyell Marshall I).
Alford talked with Turner in Vegas about a potential future as a Lobo, Romero said.
"Ray told me that Alford talked with him and asked if he was ready to commit to New Mexico," said Romero of the Jones High School product. "I wouldn't say it's an official offer, but there's definitely high interest. He could use more work on his post game and ball handling, but he's really athletic. He can jump, he can shoot the midrange jumper and he can rebound."
Texas A&M, Baylor, New Mexico State and Nebraska also are recruiting Turner, Romero said.
Some of Albuquerque's best high schoolers play for the Force, including Rio Rancho point guard Marcus Williams and Highland tandem Chad Adams and Xavier Blount.
Williams didn't play with the 17-and-under team because of a broken wrist, Romero said.
Blount, a junior-to-be, showcased his offensive ability in front of several coaches, scoring 41 points in the last two games.
Adams, also a junior, didn't fare as well, averaging 7.3 points per game. The 6-5 Adams is an aggressive penetrator who plays great defense and rebounds, Romero said, but he needs to work on his jump shot.
The Force went 10 of 45 from the 3-point line.
"We couldn't close out games," Romero said. "In every game, we were competitive. We lost one at the buzzer, one by two and another against Kansas City where we were up by five with two minutes left. We could have done better, but it was a good experience."
UNM coaches also liked the game of 6-7 Matt Peeler out of Alamogordo, Romero said. New Mexico State, Weber State and Liberty, former Lobos coach Ritchie McKay's new school, are eyeing the senior-to-be.
Even if no players from this squad play for UNM, Alford's staff has forged a relationship with the the local AAU team.
"They've all been to a few of our games, and they've been real supportive," Romero said.
JC bound: Former Lobos guard David Kanyinda has found a home at Lamar Junior College in Colorado, he said Wednesday.
Kanyinda, seldom used as a freshman last season, plans to suit up for one junior college season before signing with another Division I school.
The 6-1 Kanyinda, who left the Lobos in June after being demoted to walk-on status, won The Tribune's boys basketball Player of the Year award in 2006 as a Sandia High School standout.
Former UNM center Derek Oestreicher will play next season at Redding (Calif.) Junior College for a season, Kanyinda said, only to follow former Lobos coach Ritchie McKay to Liberty.
