(05-18-2017 09:34 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(05-18-2017 09:19 PM)Clarity Wrote:  It's official LJ Figueroa will not be playing for NMSU this year per Mark Rudi.

Again, this is not unexpected. NMSU needs to fill three scholarships for the 2017-18 season. The main players are AJ Harris, Sidy Ndir, Eli Chuha and Jemerrio Jones. NMSU will also get support from Wilkins and Marlon Jones. After those 6, NMSU will need to incorporate four freshmen... Johnny McCants, Gabe Hadley, Kortrijk Miles, and "maybe" Bollo Gnahore. I suspect Jans will add at least two jucos or grad transfers to be named later. I think NMSU needs one more guard (hopefully a juco or grad transfer), one more big man (maybe a freshman), and one more wing forward (also hopefully a juco or grad transfer).

**Edited** Besides adding two or three players to the Aggie roster, probably the most important positions that need to be filled soon are the three openings on Jans staff: two assistant coaches and a director of basketball operations. Assistant coaches Hsu and Bopps were a big reason for Weir's "almost" recruiting class at NMSU. Jans new staff additions could play a major part as well.

I'm rooting for Jans to pull some solid grad transfers who can bring experience and an attitude the reflects what he wants the Aggies program to be. Guys like that buy in & buy him a year to get his feet under him to really build the type of recruiting pipeline he wants (i.e. HS, JUCO, etc) without tying up scholarships long-term.

In no way should anyone think that means lowering expectations. We've discussed at length a) the strong core of players returning to NMSU & b) Jans' demonstrated ability to adapt his system to the players, rather than demanding the opposite. Those things lead me to believe Aggies will be more than fine.

I won't believe otherwise unless/until I see it with my own eyes.