is the WAC's biggest 2017 recruit. LJ is already enrolled at New Mexico State this spring. He is the 59th rated 2017 recruit according to Verbal Commits.


His evaluation from Scouts.com.

"L.J. Figueroa is an aggressive scorer who can get his points from all three levels. His speed and ball skills at his size make him tough to stop in transition, while in half court situations he can get to the basket, knock down floaters or mid-range jumpers and hit catch and shoot threes. He's got pretty good size and should be able to play both the two and three in college."


Future WAC Player of the Year.

You said that about Jermaine Haley and IMO he has stunk it up. I'm glad we are getting good prospects but stars don't win games. Pascal Siakam was a two star recruit no one went after but NMSU and he became a 1st round draft pick in the NBA and starts his rookie year. Wilkens was a three star recruit too and he stinks too. You raved about Matt Taylor as well so let's be happy Weir seems to be recruiting at a high level but see what they do once they play before we shart in our shorts about them.

L.J. Figueroa is an aggressive scorer who can get his points from all three levels. His speed and ball skills at his size make him tough to stop in transition, while in half court situations he can get to the basket, knock down floaters or mid-range jumpers and hit catch and shoot threes. He's got pretty good size and should be able to play both the two and three in college

With in depth analysis like this no wonder scout is going down the tubes.

I think a good gauge is who else was recruiting these prospects. There are always a few 2-star who slip through the cracks (Siakam) and a few 3 and 4 star recruit who might be over hyped but don't have many P5 suitors (Wilkins). However, there are also some player who have lived up to the star rating and fell into NMSU's lap... Ian Baker was a 3-star who originally signed with Providence. Sidy Ndir was a 3-star prospect who committed to Texas A&M before landing at NMSU due to grades. We have Ohio State transfer AJ Harris, 4-star prospect, and consensus Top 100 recruit sitting out a season currently. Jermaine Haley was also a 4-star recruit and originally committed to Washington...BUT he is only a freshman. Baker wasn't a star when he first came to NMSU so cut Haley a little slack. Finally, if you look at who also recruited LJ Figueroa, you should understand why Aggie fans should be excited. Keep in mind, the "star" rating has more to do with potential. Some players blossom sooner than others. Baker took some time. Sidy will take some time. And, Haley's better days are still ahead of him. Figueroa will be good but that comes with experience.

(02-20-2017 02:47 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 11:47 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  You said that about Jermaine Haley and IMO he has stunk it up. I'm glad we are getting good prospects but stars don't win games. Pascal Siakam was a two star recruit no one went after but NMSU and he became a 1st round draft pick in the NBA and starts his rookie year. Wilkens was a three star recruit too and he stinks too. You raved about Matt Taylor as well so let's be happy Weir seems to be recruiting at a high level but see what they do once they play before we shart in our shorts about them.

Jermaine Haley is only a freshman. He is going to be a great player for us. Just wait until next year. You'll see I was right. I also have the right to be excited about our incoming players. If you don't like it, to fking bad. Do something about it.

Why would dancin "not like it?" He's an Ags fan. I think its just your constant need to tell (yourself, mostly) that NMSU is a good team that he's taking issue with.

Currently mobile....but not necessarily upwardly.

(02-20-2017 02:55 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 12:41 AM)Vaqueronation Wrote:  L.J. Figueroa is an aggressive scorer who can get his points from all three levels. His speed and ball skills at his size make him tough to stop in transition, while in half court situations he can get to the basket, knock down floaters or mid-range jumpers and hit catch and shoot threes. He's got pretty good size and should be able to play both the two and three in college

With in depth analysis like this no wonder scout is going down the tubes.

The kid is a top 100 recruit. He will excel playing in this current conference, especially with the crappy team in Texas.

hey maybe nmsu will finally get out of the first round with all these stars.

(02-20-2017 04:26 PM)Vaqueronation Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 02:55 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 12:41 AM)Vaqueronation Wrote:  L.J. Figueroa is an aggressive scorer who can get his points from all three levels. His speed and ball skills at his size make him tough to stop in transition, while in half court situations he can get to the basket, knock down floaters or mid-range jumpers and hit catch and shoot threes. He's got pretty good size and should be able to play both the two and three in college

With in depth analysis like this no wonder scout is going down the tubes.

The kid is a top 100 recruit. He will excel playing in this current conference, especially with the crappy team in Texas.

hey maybe nmsu will finally get out of the first round with all these stars.

It is difficult for NMSU to defeat a Top 4 seed. NMSU will need to get a 12 seed or better in order to not meet a Top 4 seed in the opening round.

(02-19-2017 11:47 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  You said that about Jermaine Haley and IMO he has stunk it up. I'm glad we are getting good prospects but stars don't win games. Pascal Siakam was a two star recruit no one went after but NMSU and he became a 1st round draft pick in the NBA and starts his rookie year. Wilkens was a three star recruit too and he stinks too. You raved about Matt Taylor as well so let's be happy Weir seems to be recruiting at a high level but see what they do once they play before we shart in our shorts about them.

I have the right to be excited about our incoming players. If you don't like it, then ignore my thread. I'm going to continue to post threads about our incoming recruits. I'm excited about the direction the program is going under Weir. Jermaine is going to be a great player. He is only a freshman. I looking forward to watching him grow the next three years. I'm excited about AJ Harris being our point guard. I'm excited about LJ being our future shooting guard. I believe LJ might be the most complete shooting guard we've had at NMSU since Jahmar Young. Will he be a star as a freshman? No, but the kid has four years to be WAC Player of the Year. I'm not expecting any of these kids to be stars as freshman. But I'm excited they are Aggies. I'm excited about the potential they have. I can't wait till the 2017/2018 season. It could be special.

Remi Barry averaged 13 points per game, shooting 42% from 3 as a senior. The kid probably would had similar numbers as a junior if he didn't get injured. He didn't play much as a freshman or sophomore, because he was playing behind upperclassman. I was excited about him. I knew he would make an impact at NMSU, and that is exactly what he did.

(02-19-2017 11:47 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  You said that about Jermaine Haley and IMO he has stunk it up. I'm glad we are getting good prospects but stars don't win games. Pascal Siakam was a two star recruit no one went after but NMSU and he became a 1st round draft pick in the NBA and starts his rookie year. Wilkens was a three star recruit too and he stinks too. You raved about Matt Taylor as well so let's be happy Weir seems to be recruiting at a high level but see what they do once they play before we shart in our shorts about them.

I have the right to be excited about our incoming players. If you don't like it, then ignore my thread. I'm going to continue to post threads about our incoming recruits. I'm excited about the direction the program is going under Weir. Jermaine is going to be a great player. He is only a freshman. I looking forward to watching him grow the next three years. I'm excited about AJ Harris being our point guard. I'm excited about LJ being our future shooting guard. I believe LJ might be the most complete shooting guard we've had at NMSU since Jahmar Young. Will he be a star as a freshman? No, but the kid has four years to be WAC Player of the Year. I'm not expecting any of these kids to be stars as freshman. But I'm excited they are Aggies. I'm excited about the potential they have. I can't wait till the 2017/2018 season. It could be special.

Remi Barry averaged 13 points per game, shooting 42% from 3 as a senior. The kid probably would had similar numbers as a junior if he didn't get injured. He didn't play much as a freshman or sophomore, because he was playing behind upperclassman. I was excited about him. I knew he would make an impact at NMSU, and that is exactly what he did.

(02-20-2017 04:26 PM)Vaqueronation Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 02:55 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 12:41 AM)Vaqueronation Wrote:  L.J. Figueroa is an aggressive scorer who can get his points from all three levels. His speed and ball skills at his size make him tough to stop in transition, while in half court situations he can get to the basket, knock down floaters or mid-range jumpers and hit catch and shoot threes. He's got pretty good size and should be able to play both the two and three in college

With in depth analysis like this no wonder scout is going down the tubes.

The kid is a top 100 recruit. He will excel playing in this current conference, especially with the crappy team in Texas.

hey maybe nmsu will finally get out of the first round with all these stars.

That "analysis" doesn't say much about his defensive skills. He probably won't help much on NMSU giving up 101 points to "the crappy team in Texas".

Figueroa was a very good pick-up. A legitimate four star player that had plenty of offers and interest from other schools, including power conference and AAC schools in his home state. This pickup was good for NMSU and the WAC.

But there will be competition from other schools. GCU brought in a three star player last year from the Bay Area in Northern California and they are bringing in another three star player from the Bay Area, this one from Oakland. Looking at 2018, GCU has offers out to seven players, all 3 & 4 star players. They are trying to compete with the Pac-12 for some of these kids. If they land just a couple of them, they will be very tough to beat. They are recruiting California well.

If CSUB ever breaks through with a couple of top recruits, they will be even tougher to beat. Barnes has done an excellent job of developing talent and they just play good defense at CSUB. Watch out for UTRGV, they have a 3 star guard coming in and a new arena next season. They open up with Oklahoma at home.

(02-21-2017 10:32 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Figueroa was a very good pick-up. A legitimate four star player that had plenty of offers and interest from other schools, including power conference and AAC schools in his home state. This pickup was good for NMSU and the WAC.

But there will be competition from other schools. GCU brought in a three star player last year from the Bay Area in Northern California and they are bringing in another three star player from the Bay Area, this one from Oakland. Looking at 2018, GCU has offers out to seven players, all 3 & 4 star players. They are trying to compete with the Pac-12 for some of these kids. If they land just a couple of them, they will be very tough to beat. They are recruiting California well.

If CSUB ever breaks through with a couple of top recruits, they will be even tougher to beat. Barnes has done an excellent job of developing talent and they just play good defense at CSUB. Watch out for UTRGV, they have a 3 star guard coming in and a new arena next season. They open up with Oklahoma at home.

Some of the transfers Barnes have brought to Bako have been 3 stars. Durham, Ndoye, and there was the guy from Georgia who only lasted a season unfortunately. Utah Valley landed that 4-star PF from Arizona (who was downed to 3 star after like Haley at NMSU) but he is on a mission trip right now. To Seattles credit, 3 star Ar'Mond Davis signed his LOI but didnt qualify academically. He spent 2 years in JUCO, became a 4 star, and now is at Alabama. UTRGV also had that 4-star PG transfer from Oklahoma State but he ended up at Oakland if I remember correctly

(Sorry i cant remember all names)

(02-21-2017 10:32 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Figueroa was a very good pick-up. A legitimate four star player that had plenty of offers and interest from other schools, including power conference and AAC schools in his home state. This pickup was good for NMSU and the WAC.

But there will be competition from other schools. GCU brought in a three star player last year from the Bay Area in Northern California and they are bringing in another three star player from the Bay Area, this one from Oakland. Looking at 2018, GCU has offers out to seven players, all 3 & 4 star players. They are trying to compete with the Pac-12 for some of these kids. If they land just a couple of them, they will be very tough to beat. They are recruiting California well.

If CSUB ever breaks through with a couple of top recruits, they will be even tougher to beat. Barnes has done an excellent job of developing talent and they just play good defense at CSUB. Watch out for UTRGV, they have a 3 star guard coming in and a new arena next season. They open up with Oklahoma at home.

NMSU will have a roster full of 4-star and 3-star recruits next season.

AJ Harris - 4-Star Recruit
LJ Figueroa - 4-Star Recruit
Jermaine Haley - 4-Star Recruit
Sidy Ndir - 3-Star Recruit
Braxton Huggins - 3-Star Recruit
Eli Chuha - 3-Star Recruit
Jonathan Wilkins - 3-Star Recruit
Tyree Robinson - 3-Star Recruit
Marlon Jones - 3-Star Recruit
Bollo Gnahore - 3-Star Recruit
Johnny McCants - 3-Star Recruit

NMSU is going to have the depth next season to run Weir's system.

First Team

PG AJ Harris
SG Sidy Ndir
SF Jachai Simmons
PF Eli Chuha
C Jonathan Wilkins

Second Team

PG Jermaine Haley
SG Braxton Huggins
SF LJ Figueroa
PF Demerrio Jones/Tyree Robinson
C Marlon Jones/Bollo Gnahore

I think of all the new players Weir is bringing in next season AJ Harris is the one who could cause the most impact. He bring a new element to this program... blazing speed at the point.

I think if he plays up to his potential, he will reek havoc on opposing defense much in the same way Russell does for GCU. I don't think Harris will score at the same rate of Russell (initially) but NMSU doesn't need him to score right away; we have other scorers. We need him to facilitate... slice-n-dice the defense and dish to his scorers much like a Sam Crawford did in the past.

With a extremely quick, good ball handling point guard like Harris, NMSU can control tempo and Weir's fast paced run-n-gun style can gain real traction next season.