Additions to the NMSU basketball roster

As usual, Jason Groves is on top of all matters pertaining to New Mexico State men's basketball and his latest article contains all the information of the comings-and-goings.

Menzies welcomes McKines back, adds two prospects
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
8/31/2008

LAS CRUCES —Herb Pope's departure from the New Mexico State University basketball program on Sunday was 1/4 of the personnel moves that head coach Marvin Menzies announced.

He brought in two Canadian players, as well as reiterated the return of forward Wendell McKines, who received his release immediately following his freshman season...

Go here for the remainder.

We take back our mea culpa -- Pope is not an Aggie

Well, it's either becoming "The Twlight Zone" or an recurring episode of "Days Of Our Lives" down in Las Cruces as Herb Pope has again left the program. Of course, the question is begged, did he ever really return?

Your guess is as good as ours concerning the crux of this latest change in direction -- if indeed it was a change and yes, we are calling into question the various statements issued by NMSU AD McKinley "Smoke & Mirrors" Boston throughout this circus. Read the article and see if you agree with us that Coach Marvin Menzies appears to have finally said 'no mas' and cut whatever cord there was.

Pope leaves New Mexico State
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
8/31/2008

LAS CRUCES — The tumultuous relationship between the New Mexico State University men's basketball team and forward Herb Pope finally came to an end.

Pope was a surprising addition to the program when he signed early with former Aggies head coach Reggie Theus. After one season at NMSU where he missed the first 19 games due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues, current Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies announced on Sunday that Pope is leaving the program.

"A decision has been made that Herb Pope will not play for the Aggies this upcoming season," Menzies said in a statement."It is unfortunate things did not work out for Herb at NMSU, however, moving forward is best for all parties involved.

"We are building a program that will have chemistry and success, and in order to do that you must have development and continuity. We wish him well in the future both on and off the court. Moving forward, I am very excited about our young team's potential for this season and in the years to come..."

Go here for the remainder.

This post could mean something but also very little

The subject matter of this post is absolutely going to be open to interpretation. Our biases, conscious or unconscious, will definitely come into play as will our fan-dom leanings. With that in mind...

Transferring is the name of the game, now more so now than any other time in the history of college basketball. But transferring, in and of itself, is neither a positive or a negative in relation to a basketball program. It simply is what it is and each case demands a 'playing out' of the situation before any accurate 'value label' be attached.

However, we fans typically don't operate in such a manner. What is seemingly going to better 'our' team -- a transfer -- is a positive and who gives a damn what the fans of the newly arrived player's former school think and feel. The shoe is on the other foot when the situation is reversed.

Call this a prejudicial-driven activity.

Recently, some New Mexico State fans were bemoaning the shakiness of the Aggie roster amid the seemingly perennial comings and goings of players.

But it's a blade that cuts both ways.

Sure, JayDee Luster (playing time), DeAngelo Jones (playing time), Paris Carter (academics) and earlier Wendell McKines plus Herb Pope headed elsewhere in the 'recent' past. Of course, McKines and Pope later recanted. At least for now.

But we also recall that in the not too distant past that Justin Hawkins, Martin Iti, Fred Peete and Trei Steward all simultaneously arrived as D-1 transfers in Las Cruces and we've been unable to unearth any Aggie fan lamentations about there being too many transfers taking place when this happened.

So as previously stated, 'getting' rather than 'losing' players is viewed as a positive by the fans of the teams adding players to their rosters and typically vice versa for schools having players move on to elsewhere.

Also, NCAA rulings regarding initial college eligibility are also appearing more in the headlines than at any other time. The primary factor for this is that in addition to the traditional high schools, a number of would-be collegians now enroll in non-traditional 'schools'-- and we use that term loosely. So kids attending these makeshift alternative high schools have their NCAA eligibility questioned because these basketball factories have a well-earned reputation for being academically deficient. The NCAA has gone so far as stating it will not accept academic credits for anyone attending these fraudulent businesses.

Try this link for further details on that subject.

So that got us looking at the current NMSU men's basketball roster and the 'high schools' of the student-athletes:

Jahmar Young (Laurinberg Prep)

Johnny Higgins (Notre Dame Prep)

Herb Pope (Aliquippa HS) who almost went to prep school in Florida as a junior

Jonathan Gibson (Calvary Christian Prep)

Terrance Joyner (Genesis One Christian)

Robert Lumpkins (Kilgore College) (H.D. Woodson HS)

Wendell McKines (Richmond HS)

Hamidu Rahman (American Christian HS)

Troy Gillenwater (Stoneridge Prep)

Gordo Castillo (Las Cruces HS)

Chris Gabriel (JSerra Catholic HS)

Five of the Aggies were involved in some sort of prep school, some more than one:

** Laurinberg Prep
** Notre Dame Prep
** Calvary Christian Prep
** Stoneridge Prep
** Genesis One (which closed in 2007 and morphed into Mississippi Elite Christian Academy)

All of these 'schools' have come under NCAA scrutiny -- of which it is important to note doesn't necessarily prove guilt.

Here's a link to some of Stoneridge Prep's history, along with mention of Calvary Christian Prep.

One other note: Talented prepster Faisal Aden, out of God's Academy in Dallas, TX was also signed by NMSU but was unable to make the academic eligibility cut in 2008. Here one link and also another on the reputation of that institution and it isn't good.

Now this isn't 'proof' in the sense that it could be used in any court of law or the such but it certainly appears New Mexico State has populated its roster with a number of student-athletes who haven't exactly arrived from the most stable (a crucial point) or academically-driven of settings.

Is this also a factor in the Aggie roster makeup/shakeup of 2008-2009 and will it possibly be a contributor to any turnover in the future?

McLaughlin sticking with Nevada for 2009-2010

We communicated with someone informed about Mark McLaughlin and his decision to attend prep school rather than wait and see if the NCAA would grant him freshman eligibility at Nevada this season and there is no current thinking of McLaughlin being anywhere but Nevada in 2009-2010.

You can take it to the bank that McLaughlin will be contacted by other schools but his commitment to the Wolf Pack is solid.

We will follow up with a further post if we come across anything different.

Two names missing from NMSU roster

Maybe it's like with the college football rosters where changes are made almost daily during the month of August as academic and eligibility issues are resolved one way or the other but two names are absent from Coach Marvin Menzies' basketball roster at New Mexico State: Chris Cole and Abdoulaye N’doye.

Cole is a point who started seven games last season and played just above 17 minutes a contest. He shot poorly but produced a 72-37 assist to turnover ratio. He would have brought experience to the Aggie backcourt but there are talented, if unproven, new recruits who probably would have quickly passed over him. We don't think he was on scholarship last season and maybe he tired of that situation.

N’doye is a 7-0 native of Dakar, Senegal, who played at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and also the Babacar Sy Basketball School last season. It would have been a learning or transition year for the freshman in Las Cruces in 2008-2009.

With N’doye, we're guessing it was more than likely an academic documentation issue.

No official reason has been provided for the missing duo.

More questions than answers on Pope situation

Boy are we confused. Just what happened?

Regardless of when Herb Pope decided attending school and playing college basketball closer to home was his preference, he had to know that the NCAA wasn't going to push his particular case to the front of the line -- that being his asking for a waiver to play right away at his new school.

According to news reports, Pope received the legal okay from New Mexico State to formally visit east coast schools (or maybe it was clearly defined which particular ones) last week, that period of time being August 18-22.

So Pope -- either informed by those around him or by Seton Hall and possibly Duquesne officials if he indeed made a visit to the latter -- that any transfer to the Pirates or Dukes was not going to be a fully done deal. Heck, it's doubtful that the NCAA would issue a ruling by the opening day of this year's college basketball season let alone in the next week or so.

If it was Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA or some other mega-basketball program, then the NCAA might take marching orders. Sorry but Seton Hall and Duquesne do not have that kind of cachet.

So it has to be a given that Pope entered into his search or very soon thereafter was aware that an approval waiver was no sure thing and that the odds were he would be sitting out the 2008-2009 season as a transfer redshirt.

Why did he proceed?

That's the element we can't determine.

Anyone got the answers?

Teddy Feinberg, the sports editor for the Las Cruces Sun-News on 8/27/2008 wrote an article about the situation, including:

"...Boston clarified [about Pope's release], saying that NMSU is allowing Pope to explore his options on the East Coast, presuming that the NCAA will grant the player a hardship waiver. The waiver would allow Pope to resume play next year instead of sitting out an extra season due to NCAA regulations on transfer students. If Pope is not granted the waiver, he will return to the Aggies for the 2008-09 season..."

Again, Boston had to know no swift NCAA decision would be forthcoming so why bother with the qualified release, knowing nothing would come of it? Why not tell Pope not to bother with his wish to move closer to home? Did Pope insist on it anyway?

The mystery continues.

Here's Gary Parrish of CBSSports with an opinion piece today. He comes off a little too harsh on Pope for our taste and doesn't explore the matters of our questions above:

Hoping Pope changes ways might be a lost cause
Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
August 29, 2008

Herb Pope is returning to New Mexico State.

But make no mistake, it's not what he wanted to do.

He wanted to transfer closer to home -- perhaps to Seton Hall, where he visited recently after asking New Mexico State for a release. But faced with the reality of having to sit out a year once the NCAA likely denied a waiver for immediate eligibility requested because of an undisclosed "personal" issue, Pope informed the Aggies' staff Friday morning that he plans to enroll in classes at NMSU and proceed as planned.

Consequently, this month-long roller coaster is over.

But only temporarily...

. Go here for the remainder.

Jahmar Young getting some good news?

It's just prior to the Labor Day weekend and Jahmar Young may look back at this date as one of the best of his life:

Attorney asks for charges against NMSU basketball player be dismissed (12:09 p.m.)
Jose L. Medina
Las Cruces Sun-News
8/29/2008

LAS CRUCES — Prosecutors have dismissed one charge against a New Mexico State University basketball player and two more may be tossed if a judge decides prosecutors took too long in bringing their case to trial.

State District Judge Doug Driggers gave Jahmar Young's attorney 10 days to come up with case law that supports the defense argument that prosecutors did not bring the case to trial within six months, as required by state law, without obtaining an extension.

Young, 21, faces misdemeanor charges of assault and battery. A third charge of resisting arrest was dismissed by prosecutors earlier this month. He was in the courtroom, but did not speak Friday as his attorney argued for the dismissal of the case.

At issue is when the six-month rule started in the case....

Go here for the remainder.

Pope to remain an Aggie

Gary Parrish has it direct from Marvin Menzies that Herb Pope is returning to Las Cruces. We need to issue a mea culpa here as we didn't see this turn of events.

With our albeit limited understanding of how the NCAA works, it's hard to believe Pope was informed he wasn't going to be granted the opportunity to play right away at any new home -- although it has been suggested that is why Pope is heading back to NMSU.

More thoughts later.

New Mexico State gets good news: Pope to stick with Aggies
Gary Parrish
Aug. 29, 2008
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

After asking for a release and visiting Seton Hall, Herb Pope has decided to return to New Mexico State, Aggies coach Marvin Menzies told CBSSports.com on Friday morning.

"He was just investigating an option that would bring him closer to home because of some personal issues," Menzies said. "But that wasn't something that materialized. ... So he's more than happy to return to New Mexico State for the season..."

The Idaho Statesman on the Vandal roster

The Idaho Statesman today has some further information and insight on Don Verlin's Idaho roster this season. One player mentioned in the article-- Luiz de Toledo -- is not currently listed on the Vandal roster. He has an intriguing history, having signed with BYU out of high school.

But he never played for the Cougars, having then gone back home to Brazil supposedly to play professional basketball. How he then arrived in Canada is a mystery, as is his collegiate eligibility unless he wasn't paid for playing in Brazil or that opportunity never actually materialized. The kid is a major athlete who lacked much in the way of actual basketball skills while at Modesto Christian High (CA) as a senior in high school.

Idaho finalizes men's basketball roster, schedule
The Idaho Statesman
August 27, 2008

It has been a busy week for Idaho men's basketball coach Don Verlin, who finalized the Vandals' schedule and roster.

Idaho has a 15-player roster for the 2008-09 campaign, but three of the players are transferring from other colleges and won't be eligible to play until 2009-10.

The Vandals have added guard Steffan Johnson from Pacific, guard Marcus Lawrence from UNLV and forward Luiz de Toledo from St. Francis Xavier in Canada.

"All three kids bring different things to the program," Verlin said. "They are all good kids, and I recruited each one of them when I was at Utah State. When I got this job and they decided to transfer, I had that prior relationship..." Go here for the remainder.

Here one link and then another link about Toledo and BYU.

Another point target for Fresno State

Fresno sure seems to be hitting the state of Texas hard for a point. Here's another Lone Star State kid of interest to the Bulldogs (the third one), someone who will be tripping to the Central Valley in mid-September. But caution is the password as there seems to be a number of school much closer to home that are also in the running:

Jed Tai
RedwaveReport.com
August 27, 2008

The hunt for backcourt talent continues on for the Fresno State basketball program and in the Class of 2009, one point guard the coaches fell in love with was Javarez Willis. The explosive 5-foot-11 guard from Pinkston High School in Dallas, Texas turned heads on the AAU circuit with his play and the scholarship offers have flowed in as a result. Willis is currently in the process of narrowing things down and setting up visits and it appears that the Bulldogs will get first dibs on a trip...

..."I've narrowed it down and I'm really doing research on everybody, looking at what I'll be majoring in because education comes first," Willis said. "Right now I've cut it down to Fresno State, Houston, South Alabama, SMU, Louisiana-Monroe, and a couple of others. I'm seeing who they've been recruiting and how I might fit in with them..."

Go here to the Thursday Morning Briefing for the complete article -- a Rivals membership is required.

Days of Our Lives...NMSU style

Okay, okay. Somebody isn't telling the whole truth and nothing but...

Just how in the world can Herb Pope select a new school and be granted a waiver by the NCAA in time for Pope to begin classes? It cannot be done, even if Usain Bolt carried the paperwork to and from Pope's new home and the NCAA offices. Pope will have to start classes (and soon) without knowing whether he can play right away at his new home. In time, the NCAA will make a ruling but it won't happen in the next couple of weeks.

New Mexico State's classes have already begun and there's no sign Pope has any interest in returning and picking up the pieces there. He's intent on determining a new destination and our sense is that will be that, even if he has to sit out a year away from basketball -- which is the typical NCAA transfer scenario.

Down Las Cruces way, is someone readying the sodium pentathol or rigging up the lie detector apparatus 'cause good ol' Diogenes is getting mighty discouraged in that neck of the woods?

Anyway, here's the latest:

Pope exploring options on East Coast
Teddy Feinberg
Las Cruces Sun-News Sports Editor
8/27/2008

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University Athletics Director McKinley Boston said he is confident that Herb Pope will play basketball for the Aggies this season, amid reports that the sophomore forward could be on his way out of town.

The Star Ledger in Newark, N.J., reported on Wednesday that the former high school All-American and prized NMSU recruit from a season ago is considering transferring to Seton Hall. The paper also reported that New Mexico State has granted Pope his release from the program.

Boston clarified, saying that NMSU is allowing Pope to explore his options on the East Coast, presuming that the NCAA will grant the player a hardship waiver. The waiver would allow Pope to resume play next year instead of sitting out an extra season due to NCAA regulations on transfer students. If Pope is not granted the waiver, he will return to the Aggies for the 2008-09 season....

Go here for the remainder.

This sounds like confirmation -- Pope is a goner

From Teddy Feinberg's blog entry around noon today. We do not wish to come off as mean or even excited by the departure as it truly also is a loss for the WAC but stick a fork in Herb Pope being at NMSU despite the verbal offering by McKinley Boston. This also accounts for the return of Wendell McKines:

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I received this article today from the Bergen Record about Herb Pope...The article reports that NMSU granted him his release and he visited Seton Hall...

I called McKinley Boston and he said that Herb has family issues back home. NMSU is trying to assist him in these issues and the athletics director was 100 percent confident that Pope would be in an Aggie uniform next year...

Here the article Feinberg references:

Seton Hall in running for New Mexico State transfer Herb Pope
Colin Stephenson
The Star-Ledger
August 27, 2008

Seton Hall is in the running to land a former high school All-American post player who is considering transferring from a Western Athletic Conference school, The Star-Ledger has learned.

Herb Pope, a 6-8 forward who averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season for New Mexico State, received his release from the school last week and took an official visit to Seton Hall last weekend....

Go here for the remainder.

More later as we ruminate.

Another point decides it's not Fresno State

The Bulldogs weren't seemingly a top tier candidate -- so that lessens any sting -- as a point decides to verbal to the PAC-10. Actually, give Coach Steve Cleveland some props for at least being 'in the running' for and having earned the interest of a top level target. This kid appears to be the type who could have been a difference maker in the WAC but beating out Big East conference teams and a PAC-10 member is a Sisyphus-like endeavor.

Justin Young
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting
August 25, 2008

Texas point guard Reger Dowell decided to jump on a big time offer on Monday and wasted little time ending his recruitment. The 6-foot-1 senior is headed to the Pac-10.

Dowell told Rivals.com that he accepted an offer to play at the University of Arizona...

...Dowell also strongly considered LSU, Cincinnati, Providence (offer) and Fresno State (offer)....

Go here for the full article if you have a Rivals subscription.

Who is on the Idaho roster this week?

Idaho just posted the men's 2008-2009 basketball roster and some names are missing. Now keep in mind that rosters at this point can be as fluid as recruiting commitments but here are the official names of the Vandals to date.

Steffan Johnson has indeed transferred from Pacific. Phillip Thomas, a soph-to-be 'big' out of San Leandro High CA, isn't listed. A Georgian, Erekele Jgernaia, is also missing.

Guards Mike Hall and Jordan Brooks were dismissed right after the school year concluded.

Mac Hopson G 6-2 195 RJr.
Terrence Simmons G 6-3 170 Sr.
Brandon Wiley F 6-6 225 Jr.
Luciano de Souza F 6-7 205 Jr.
Trevor Morris G 6-4 182 Sr.
Brandon Brown G 6-1 205 Sr.
Kyle Barone C 6-10 215 Fr.
Kashif Watson G 6-4 190 Jr.
Luis Augusto F 6-8 245 Sr.
Marvin Jefferson C 6-10 235 Jr.

WALKONS???

Drew Eisinger G 6-3 165 So.
Ryan Ryan G 6-1 190 So.

REDSHIRTS

Steffan Johnson G 6-1 172 Sr. (Pacific)
Marcus Lawrence G 5-10 180 Jr. (UNLV)

It was a coin flip

Hey, we couldn't decide whether to title this entry "Where's Herb?" (Waldo) or "Where in the world is Herb Pope?" (Carmen Sandiego) although having to explain tends to defeat the purpose of using either one.

Maybe we're overdoing it but a couple of posts at a New Mexico State fan message board intrigued us. Granted, message boards tend to have the authenticity of White House press secretaries so...

First, here's someone saying Pope is gone but it is also an individual with but 12 posts to his/her credit:

* BestintheWAC
* Rookie Aggie
* 12 posts this site

Re: pope leaving????????? Yes
As I had stated earlier in the spring, those close to the WAC were aware of his intention to not suit up again in this conference. With the growth of the NBA D-league and unproven talent going overseas, I'd expect to see him earning $$ before earning a degree. It's too bad as he was a quality talent.

Then, there was this marvelously creative and hilarious effort:

* UnderdogAggie
* Varsity Aggie
* 1899 posts this site

RE: pope leaving????????? Yes

Pope can look at it this way...

He can be a big fish in a small pond (WAC) or a small fish in a big pond (Big East).

Allow me JT....(my apologies to Rod Stwart)

Wake up Herbie, I think I've got something to say to you
It's late August and you really should be back at NMSU
I know your friends keep you amused, but I think you're being used
Oh Herbie, NMSU couldn't have tried any more

You were lured away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole Aggie fan hearts and that's what really hurt

The uncertainty in your face really shows your age
But the critics don't worry us none, in our eyes you're everything
I laughed at all of your missed free-throws, your dunks you didn't need to coax
Oh, Herbie we couldn't have admired you any more
You were lured away from home, just to save you from being alone
You stole our souls and that's a pain we can do without

All you needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
But he turned into a NBA coach and
Lobo fans cheered, because he freaked them out
All you did was wreck the WAC
And in the end your team got whacked
Oh Herbie you couldn't have tried anymore
You were lured away from home cause you didn't want to be alone
You stole our hearts I couldn't blame you if you left

I suppose you could collect your books and get on back to NMSU
Or steal Reggie's cue and make a living playing basketball too
Or find yourself a European team that needs a helpin hand
Oh Herbie I wish we'd never seen your game
You made a first-class fool out of Aggie fans
But we're as blind as Aggie fans can be
You stole our hearts but we want you to stay anyway

Herbie I wish Id never seen your game
We'll get back to the NCAA's one of these days