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University of New Mexico men's basketball recruit Curtis Dennis shoots from the hip as well as he shoots for the basket.

"This (recruiting) class is going to be exquisite," Dennis said today in a telephone interview with The Tribune.

"I know coach (Steve) Alford is expecting big things from us and so are all the guys."

Dennis, a 6-foot-4 swing guard, is one of five Texas-area players expected to sign binding national letters of intent with UNM today. Dennis, a Bronx, N.Y., native, played this past season at Houston Prep.

The not-so-bashful Dennis compared his basketball skills to a composite of several NBA superstars: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and "Rip" Hamilton.

"I love coming off screens like Rip," he said, "and I can score in transition coming full speed like Kidd, and finish. I can post up guys like Kobe, and I've got a sweet hesitation move like Anthony."

Dennis said he's eager to begin playing with the other members of the 2008 recruiting class.

That class includes Houston-area 6-5 shooting guard Phillip McDonald, who is listed as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, and is rated as a top-100 player.

McDonald played on the Houston T-Mac All-Stars Amateur Athletic Union team coached by current UNM assistant Chris Walker. He chose UNM over such schools at Oregon, Kansas, Connecticut and Oklahoma.

Two other members of the T-Mac All-Stars are expected to join McDonald as Lobos today. They are:

• Isaiah Rusher, a 6-9 power forward from Houston who was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com.

• Will Brown, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Dallas, who was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com.

The fifth recruit expected to sign today is 6-2 point guard Nathen Garth from Dallas, a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.

Dennis played summer basketball against McDonald's AAU team.

"We both have respect for each other's game," Dennis said. "We talk a lot about playing together for the Lobos.

"It's going to be killer. I know we're all freshmen, but look at what some of the other freshmen around the country are doing. Look at O.J. Mayo (Southern California) — he's blowing up already."

Dennis said he was recruited by several major schools, but he ultimately chose UNM over Wichita State and Iowa State.

McDonald's brother, Terrance Hatton, told The Tribune today that his younger sibling was to sign with UNM later this afternoon.

McDonald was wooed by the Lobos as the future face of the program.

"I'm really excited about the class he's coming in with," Hatton said. "I think they'll bring the bite back to the Lobos, The Pit."