by Mark
Hatch
Here
is the latest UTEP Basketball recruiting list for the class of 2003.
Things are looking a lot better now than they did the last time I
updated the list (http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/OTHER/MHOctober25th.htm),
when UTEP recruiting was completely up in the air thanks to the
resignation of head coach Jason Rabedeaux, which occured after
practices had already begun. Former Illini assistant Billy Gillispie
has been hired to take over the program (http://www.utepathletics.com/news/archive/110202mb1.htm).
Gillispie, an excellent recruiter w/ strong ties to the state of
Texas, salvaged the fall recruiting season by retaining all three of
Rabedeaux’s assistant coaches: Junsie Cotten, Bobby Champagne, and
Ryan Carr.
Retaining the three assistant coaches allowed the Miners
to sign two players to national letters of intent (NLIs) during the
fall signing period: 6-11 JC center Rudolph Mauricette and 6-0 JC PG
Sheldon Pace. Pace has been moved from the “Recruiting” to the
“Incoming” section of this list. Other changes include the removal of
5-8 PG Omar Duran from the “Incoming” section, something I said I
would do when the season started, as Duran, a late arrival from the
class of 2002, is now playing w/ the team; the removal of Todd Martin,
a 6-7 PF who signed w/ Albany (NY); the removal of Edgar Moreno, a 6-2
JC PG who signed w/ Texas; the addition of C.J Pigford, a 6-7 PF/SF
from Lon Morris College; the addition of Zack Wright, a 6-0 PG from
Ellison HS in Killeen, TX; and the addition of Lorenzo Williams, a 6-0
CG, also from Killeen Ellison. As always there is also brand new
analysis.
Please recognize that the list is far from inclusive, as it only
lists players whom we have been able to find connected to UTEP through
the Internet. Please also realize that the opinions expressed here are
my own, and not those of the coaching staff. My opinions on the
players are formed from reading what the recruiting experts have to
say about the players and from what others who have seen them play
have to say. Thanks to everyone who has contributed info on any of
these players, as I have only been able to compile this list through
information provided by posters to the Miner Digs message board. Miner
fans, please continue to search for potential UTEP recruits, and post
any info you receive.
Recruiting Needs
Since we handed out five scholarships last season, and the 5/8 rule
is in place, I assumed that we would only have four scholarships
available this season. Ryan Carr, however, has corrected me on this.
It appears that the 5/8 rule is reset every two years, so we still
have a maximum of five scholarships available this season, even though
we used up five last year.
This is good news, as we will have seven roster spots open. Two of
those spots are due to the graduation of SF/PF Roy Smallwood and C/PF
Justino Victoriano, while the other spots are a result of the
defections of JR SF Nick Enzweiler, JR SF/SG Antone Jarrell, SO PG
Luke Martin, and FR PG Keion Kindred (http://www.utepathletics.com/news/archive/082302mb1.htm),
and the possible career ended injury to SO SG/SF Jason Hammock.
The lack of players on next year’s squad means that we will need
help at every position. The only spots where we have underclassmen w/
any potential are at SG (FR Gio St Amant) and PF (FR John Tofi), who
are both playing very well so far this season. Two of the available
five scholarships have been awarded, to the PG Pace and C Mauricette,
both JC transfers.
I would like to see the staff bring in at least two freshman
players, one in the backcourt and one in the frontcourt, in this
class. This does not seem likely, however, given Gillipie’s late
start. We might, unfortunately, end up with a class composed entirely
of JC talent.
Incoming
Rudolph Mauricette, 6-11 C, Lee College, Baytown, TX
Due to his size, several Miner fans are excited about the signing
of Mauricette, who is ranked as the 20th best JC center by Van
Coleman (Van Coleman’s Future Stars recruiting newsletter) and
as one of the top 20 JC centers by Kenn Littlefield (Littlefield
JUCO Report). Originally from Paris, Mauricette apparently has
good strength and quickness. Unfortunately he is very raw, averaging
only 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots in Lee’s first 8 games.
These numbers have me worried. Usually the idea of signing JC players
vice HS players is so that they can come in and contribute
immediately, but, looking at his lack of production on the JC level, I
don’t know whether or not Mauricette will ever be a productive player
for us in his two years at UTEP.
Sheldon Pace, 6-0 PG, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pace had a very impressive year a freshman last season. His numbers
last year were outstanding, as he averaged 21.4 points and 50%
shooting from the field, 6.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He was
named to the California Community College All-State Team, quite an
accomplishment, especially considering that CA has the largest
community college system in the nation. He is also listed by
Lindy’s as the number 4 JC PG prospect in the country and by Van
Coleman as the number 9 JC PG. His weakness are his outside shooting
(29.5% from the arc) and free throw shooting (62.1% from the line).
Pace, who has problems w/ tendonitis in his knees, may redshirt this
season, which would give him three years w/ the Miners. I am very
happy about this signing, as I believe a healthy Pace could step in
and start for the Miners right now.
Recruiting
Frontcourt
Nathan Nixon, 6-9 PF, Bandera (TX) HS
Nixon averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks last season. His
strength is his defense and rebounding. On offense he has range out to
the three-point line, but definitely needs to work on his post play.
He needs to add bulk, as he only weighs 195 lbs right now, but is
hitting the weight room hard. The good news is that he understands his
weaknesses, and is working very hard to correct them. Nixon plans to
sign in the spring. UTEP, Boise State, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
are the Div1 schools that have most consistently shown interest.
Clarence Matthews, 6-6 PF, Central HS, Beaumont, TX
Mathews, who averaged 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks per
game last season, is primarily seeing interest from Houston,
Minnesota, Texas-Arlington, Stephen F. Austin and Lamar, but he has
also been contacted by LaSalle, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Tulane,
Tennessee, Wyoming, Tulsa, and UTEP. He is described as broad
shouldered and strong w/ decent hops, and knows how to use his weight
when motivated. Rivals.com lists him as a 3 star athlete.
Sean Raboin, 6-6 SF/SG, Mexico (MO) HS
Raboin made a name for himself at the Super Showcase and AAU
Nationals in Orlando this summer. The blue-collar player gave his Iowa
based Brothers team a much needed boost of offense during the
tournament. He has a soft touch from the perimeter, but also has the
skills to score inside as well. According to Prepstars he was supposed
to make an official visit to UTEP in October. I do not know whether or
not the visit ever occurred. In addition to the Miners, Raboin is also
considering Kent State, Holy Cross, Stanford and Miami.
Lionel Davis, 6-7 PF, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Davis is a powerfully built player that we were recruiting two
years ago out of Upland, CA. At the time he was said to have the
Miners at the top of his list, but he obviously didn’t qualify. Davis
apparently played well at the Mullens JUCO camp, where he did a solid
job defending 6’10” Robert Whaley, the number 1 JC prospect in the
country and a potential lottery pick. Davis, a teammate of Pace’s at
Chaffey, told the El Paso Times that he would sign in the spring, and
that UTEP was in his top three. In addition to the Miners, Davis is
also being recruited by Wyoming, Ball State, and San Jose State. He
was one of four JC players to visit over Homecoming weekend.
C.J. Pigford, 6-7 PF/SF, Lon Morris College, Jacksonville, TX
Through Lon Morris’s first 11 games the strong and athletic Pigford
is averaging 18 pts and 7 reb a game while shooting 63.6% from the
field, 53.8% from the arc, and 72% from the line. Currently playing
the PF forward position for Lon Morris, which is currently the 2nd
ranked JC team in the country, Pigford can also step out and hit the
perimeter shot, as can be seen from his 3 point field goal percentage.
He does need to improve his ball handling if he wants to move to the
SF spot. The talented forward, who intends to sign in the spring, has
taken a visit to Washington State, and is also interested in UTEP,
Tulsa, and LA-Lafayette .
Backcourt
Tim Gainey, 6-5 G/F, Cochise College, Douglas, AZ
As a freshman at Cochise, Gainey averaged a very respectable 15.5
ppg and 5 rpg, shot 41.2% from the field, 35.2% from 3 point range,
75.3 % from the free throw line. He is a very athletic player who
likes to both shoot from long range and put the ball on the floor. He
was an all conference performer as a freshman. He made an official
visit to UTEP during Homecoming weekend.
Zack Wright, 6-0 PG, Ellison HS, Killeen, TX
I have not been able to confirm that the Miners are recruiting Zack
Wright and his teammate Lorenzo Williams, but I have seen speculation
on the net that this is the case. Miner head coach Billy Gillispie
used to coach at Ellison, leading them to the state Final Four in ’93.
Wright, who apparently used to go by the surname Robertson, is a very
quick and athletic guard who is averaging 17 points per game so far
for the Ellison team, which is ranked 6th in the state by the Texas
Association of Basketball Coaches. I have seen some refer to him and
his teammate Williams as the best backcourt in the state.
Lorenzo Williams, 6-0 SG, Ellison HS, Killeen, TX
Williams, Ellison’s second leading scorer, is averaging 13 ppg so
far this season. He was named the most valuable player of District
13-5A last season. I’ve seen one person refer to him as a top 30
player in the state. Along w/ teammate Zack Wright he has the ability
to play either guard position.
Comments:
I am very excited about the addition of Sheldon Pace next season. I
believe that he will bring the ball handling, play making, and even
scoring ability to the PG position that we are sorely lacking this
season w/ current Miner PG Chris Craig. I am much less excited about
the addition of Mauricette. This kid apparently has a long way to go
until he is ready to contribute to a Div1 program. I hope that his
coach at Lee, Roy Champagne, can really bring him along this year, but
I’m afraid he’ll wind up at UTEP still in need of a great deal of
improvement before he can really help out the team.
From the list above, I really like both Pigford and Davis in the
frontcourt. Despite his size and the fact that he is a HS player, I
believe that Nixon is too big of a project for a UTEP team so bereft
of talent. Wright or Williams might make a nice addition to our
backcourt, if we are, indeed, recruiting them.
We know that there are more players that the Miners are seriously
involved w/ than appear on the above list. We have heard references of
Coach Gillispie bringing in recruits on at least two separate weekends
since he has arrived, but have been unable to discover the names of
these players. If anyone has any info on players that the Miners are
recruiting, please post it to Miner Digs (http://utep.rivals.com).
Best of luck to Gillispie and his staff.
Go Miners!!!!
Email: Mark
Hatch
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