Does New Mexico State have to worry?

According to Jason Groves of the Las Cruces Suns-News today, three of New Mexico State's freshman basketball signees are having to sit out practice until the NCAA Clearinghouse gives the thumbs up.

Prize recruit Herb Pope, forward Wendell McKines and guard Jahmar Young cannot practice.

However, the key quote is this:

"... Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies expects Pope and McKines to be cleared by next Thursday, and he said Young could be cleared as early as Wednesday..."

The NCAA Clearinghouse typically is logjammed right around the beginning of college football season but gains some breathing room after that. Pope and Young hace been long-time commitments to the Aggies, with McKines being somewhat recent so the paperwork on Pope and Young should have been in the hands of the Clearinghouse for some time now.

San Jose State has two basketball players sidelined until the middle of the season last year and ended up redshirting both.

If necessary, that might work with McKines and Young but Pope will not be a four year player for NMSU [yes, he is that good] and his remaining in Las Cruces could be iffy if the Clearinghouse drags its feet. But Pope also isn't ready for the NBA -- although that hasn't stopped others from declaring themselves draft eligible.

Maybe this is all a tempest in a teapot and all will be forgotten by the end of next week, as Menzies alludes to.

Maybe.