by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
As the Lobos get ready for the 2004 season, Hank Baskett is ready to take over as UNM's No. 1 receiver.
Baskett, who was third on the team in receiving stats in 2003, is confident he's up for the job.
"I've put in a lot of work this summer working on the little things," he said. "Anybody can come out and catch a football."
This season sees the departure of Dwight Counter and Adrian Boyd who accounted for 1,357 of the Lobos' 2,477 receiving yards and nine of 19 passing touchdowns.
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Baskett said he is confident he can put up similar numbers.
"I think that this receiving group can put up more," he said. "They have a very hard work ethic."
And what about the pressure of replacing Counter and Boyd?
"I've dealt with it pretty good," he said. "I don't feel like I'm replacing them. I feel that they're gone, and it's my job to step up."
Baskett has the most experience of the remaining receivers and said he has high expectations of what the Lobos will do this season.
"I want to win the conference this year and I want us to go undefeated," he said. "I think that we have the athletes and schemes to do it."
Baskett also said he is looking forward to the opportunity of being the No. 1 receiver on the squad.
"I'm very opportunistic," he said. "I've been waiting for this chance."
Being from Clovis, Baskett said he loves playing in front of a packed University Stadium.
"It feels good," he said. "The home-state people love watching the home-state boys. It makes the fans want to come out more, and it shows what athletes from New Mexico can do."
The 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound junior caught 17 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns last season. Baskett averaged 16.9 yards per catch.
This year, look for him to be a more versatile playmaker.
"Coach definitely said that there will be a lot more plays drawn up to get me the ball," he said. "There might be a couple of plays where I throw the ball. You could see a couple of reverses. You never know."
Baskett played quarterback in high school and was also one of the country's best high school track stars. In 2000, he set a state record with a high jump of seven feet. He even averaged a double-double for his high school basketball team.
"We're counting on him being our best receiver, because he's the one we got coming back with some experience," Long said. "Hank is a great athlete. He should have a great year."
When asked about third down and long situations, Baskett said, "I want a pass to me, because I feel I could get the first down."
