Subtractions and additions dominate New Mexico State

Talk about a roster flip/makeover! One that Paige Davis, Kirsten Kemp and even the hard to stomach Montelongo family real estaters could certainly appreciate.

Very, very few teams lose nine players from one season to the next and remain competitive as New Mexico State will be in 2008-2009.

However, realistically it is five guys who have departed from NMSU if the measurement is actually roster members who saw significant playing time and truly contributed. Justin Hawkins and Fred Peete were steadying influences on the court -- that's an element that may be the hardest to replicate. Martin Iti and Hatila Passos provided size and 10 fouls between the two, plus Passos enjoyed a very solid senior go-around. Wendell McKines' skills set and height made it somewhat difficult to find a position for him but he rebounded very well, especially offensively, and exhibited some fire in the belly when he took to the court.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Justin Hawkins
Fred Peete
Martin Iti
Hatila Passos
Wendell McKines

THE LESSER KNOWN DEPARTEES

Trei Steward
JayDee Luster
DeAngelo Jones
Londale Theus


RETURNEES

Jahmar Young 6-4 160 Sophomore Guard - He shot well from the line and the floor overall, especially considering it was his first season and ended up averaging in double figures at 10.3 ppg.

Paris Carter 6-4 225 Senior Guard - Carter had some early moments early on but shot poorly overall and academics relegated him to the sidelines after 13 games. A new roster has yet to be posted for NMSU so it's unknown if Carter is actually returning. He more than likely will be passed by some of the newcomers anyway.

Chris Cole 6-1 195 Junior Guard (walk-on) - 72 assists to 37 turnovers is a nice stat especially for a reserve but Coach Marvin Menzies needs a more all-around player getting major minutes at the point.

Jonathan Gibson 6-2 180 Junior Guard - 12.2 ppg. and a .419 shooting percentage from long range gets Gibson a starting spot in the 2008-2009 lineup.

Herb Pope 6-8 235 Sophomore Forward - We predict this coming season will be a breakout year for Pope, who will be eligible and in the starting lineup from the first practice.

Aaron Castillo 6-4 180 Sophomore Guard - He can shoot from long range and that's probably the niche for his playing time as there will be more talented and versatile teammates in front of him in the backcourt.


REDSHIRT NEWCOMERS

Troy Gillenwater 6-8 230 Freshman Forward - He's been a highly rated and highly traveled prepster who was once headed to Oklahoma State and has the potential to team up with Herb Pope and do some major frontcourt damage. Hopefully a degree of stability will aid in the blossoming of his talent.

Robert Lumpkins 6-6 190 Sophomore Forward - He spent a season at a Texas junior college before making his way to NMSU.

Hamidu Rahman 7-0 240 Freshman Center - He's a project but a worthwhile one considering his size and the propensity for bigs to develop late.

It's unclear at this point if either Lumpkins or Rahman will be walk-ons or scholarshipped.


NEWCOMERS

Johnny Higgins 6-2 185 point Massachusetts prep school - He originally signed with Duquesne but the interest and availability of players with a higher level of potential for the Dukes resulted in an amicable divorce on April 30 and Higgins later cast his lot with the Aggies.

Terrance Joyner 6-2 170 point guard Mississippi prep school - He originally signed with Arkansas but a transcript issue caused a parting of the ways and he landed in Las Cruces. There's little question about his talent and he's on a roster whose composition cries out for a point.

Faisal Aden 6-4 185 shooting guard Texas prep school - Out of San Diego and with three high schools behind him along with a prep academy, his academics appear a bit iffy but his potential is vast.

Chris Gabriel 6-10 270 center California high school - He's obviously an in-the-paint player who could surprise at a position that has no lock as a starter.


THE NMSU ROSTER BY POSITION

Center

Hamidu Rahman - We don't see Rahman ready for major minutes at this point.

Chris Gabriel - Gabriel is pretty much in the same situation although his potential is greater than Rahman's.

One key to the season: can Marvin Menzies cobble some decent center play out of these two?

Strong Forward

Troy Gillenwater - He's been described as an undersized 'four' but one whose productivity is difficult to match. He's not a great athlete and can be inconsistent from outside with his shot but he piles up stats like very few.

Herb Pope - Pope certainly has the possibility of jumping up to the 20 ppg. level in 2008-2009 but he needs to extend his shooting range some and also shoot much better than the .500 he achieved at the foul line last season. His length and agility make him a very tough guard inside.

Menzies is going to have both Pope and Gillenwater in the game at the same time as often as possible because those are his two best talents.

Wing/Shooting Guard

Jahmar Young - He still has an unresolved court case pending but Young is a streak shooter who has the size to get his shot off against most defenders.

Paris Carter - If still on the roster, our sense is that Carter is going to be edged out of playing time this coming season.

Jonathan Gibson - Pencil him in for 30+ minutes a game but we would like to see more dribble-drives in his offensive repertoire.

Robert Lumpkins - Don't expect to see Lumpkins on the court much as there's too much talent in front of him.

Aaron Castillo - He'll be a career backup as a catch-and-shoot long range bomber.

Faisal Aden - He's more a combo guard and one with very good size and skills. Look for him to be on the court the most of all the new guards.

Point

Chris Cole - Cole will be a career backup but one who can 'hold down the fort' for short stretches.

Terrance Joyner - The 'plan' is for Joyner to be the starting point despite his freshman status. He will probably need some adjustment time but the talent level is there.

Johnny Higgins - We see the possibility of Higgins' redshirting depending on how Joyner plays from the get-go. Either way, Cole looks to be the backup point at least for most of next season.

SUMMARY

Can the Aggies share the ball and display less verbal jawing at one another in 2008-2009? The senior leadership is gone so its imperative that one or two others step up into the role. Who will it be?

It may not surface as an issue but it's at least a bit disconcerting that Menzies is bringing in some student-athletes whose academic efforts are seemingly not in league with their basketball talent. Let's hope these kids buckle down academically or another season of 'interruptions' -- players eligible, then not/players not eligible, then able to play -- may be in store for the Aggies.

Menzies needs both Joyner and Aden to come through in the backcourt, along with Gillenwater upfront. That's asking a lot of freshman, at least right away.

Pope is the best talent -- can he become the team leader and go-to guy in 2008-2009?