MBB Update: April 17 – May 8

Isabel Gonzalez
@cisabelg

The University of New Mexico men’s basketball coaching staff has been working quietly. Head coach Paul Weir and the Lobos are expected to have their first media availability on Monday, May 13 during the Lobo basketball golf tournament.
Here is a quick recap of the last three weeks in case you missed anything (or want to read about it again):
Recruiting
Latest offers New Mexico has made

• Class of 2020 Texas High 6’7″ F CJ Kelley
• Class of 2021 6’4″ SG Will McClendon
• Class of 2020 6’6″ Mwani Wilkinson
• Class of 2021 6’11” F Javonte Brown
• Class of 2020 G Dayten Holman
• Class of 2021 6’3″ PG Zhuric Phelps
• Class of 2020 6’6″ G Quincy McGriff
• Class of 2021 6’4″ Jaden Hardy
• Class of 2020 6’10” C Jonathan Aku
• Class of 2020 SG DeMarr Langford
• Class of 2020 6’3″ SG Detrick Reeves

Source: Missouri, Marquette, Nebraska, Nevada, San Diego St, San Diego, New Mexico, UNLV, and others are among the schools that have reached out to Oregon State transfer Warren Washington. Visits are planned to begin in late May.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 3, 2019

Mountain West schedule news

• Jon Rothstein reported that the Colorado State Rams will play Duke at home as part of the Blue Devils’ 2019-20 non-conference schedule.
• The Nevada Wolf Pack will open their 2019-20 campaign on Nov. 5 against Utah, per Mike Sefansson.

JaQuan Lyle workouts
Lyle worked with Clint Parks (Kyle Kuzma’s trainer) in April and posted a video with CG Training (by former IU player Taylor Wayer) early May.
Lyle is making the most out of his recovery, he even spent Easter hiking.
Vance Jackson returns
The redshirt sophomore will be returning to the University of New Mexico next season after having declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. Jackson was named last season’s Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year and snatched a spot in the MW All-Tournament team. He averaged 13.1 points per game during the 2018-19 campaign.
JJ Caldwell is official
Caldwell committed to New Mexico in January, but the school made it official on April 19. The former Texas A&M point guard redshirted during his true freshman season. He appeared in 16 games, averaging 16 minutes and 2.9 points per game during the 2017-18 campaign.
Antwan January signs with UNM
This one was a quick turnaround as the four-star recruit had originally committed to Illinois. January received an offer from UNM in July and visited the school in September. The 6’11” PF/C announced he had signed with UNM on May 1, just a couple days after reopening his recruitment.
https://twitter.com/antwanjanuary/status/1123788152324464641
Mathis: Senior Year Part II
UNM won’t have to tackle next season without their leading scorer, as the NCAA granted the senior one more year. Even Mathis was surprised when he heard the news since he was already planning on getting an agent and exploring his options for life after college.
While he got busy training as soon as he found out the news, he still takes time to make his fans happy. He recently made a quick stop at a birthday party.
Coaches

• We had known well before that, but assistant coach Chris Harriman finally made the announcement of him joining the California Golden Bears on April 19.
• Alford and Neal: From Lobos to Wolf Pack. Steve Alford and Craig Neal are Mountain West coaching duo once again. Neal was an assistant under Alford at Iowa from 2004-07 and at UNM from 2007-13.