by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
A player's basketball skills as well as his behavior off the court have always been important to Ritchie McKay when he's recruiting.
But during the recruiting process this year, staying out of the police blotter means a little bit more to the men's basketball head coach. That might be why none of the incoming players have had troubles with the cops.
"Character is always a factor in what we do when we recruit, but we are even more conscientious with this year's class," McKay said.
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Two Lobos this year, Kyle Prochaska and Aaron Johnson, have been arrested in Albuquerque, and a third, J.R. Giddens, faced charges in Kansas before transferring to UNM.
With the signing of high school senior Sean Imadiyi (pronounced a-MAH-dee) from Tempe, Ariz., on Wednesday, the Lobos have inked four players for next year's team. A fifth, 6-foot-1-inch guard David Kanyinda from Sandia High School, plans to walk on to the Lobos.
High school seniors 6-foot-10-inch center Derek Oestreicher (A-striker) from Shasta Lake, Calif., and 6-foot-7-inch forward Ramon Martinez from El Paso, Texas, are the other two incoming freshman.
McKay also has a written commitment from junior college player Jeffrey Henfield. Henfield is a 6-foot-4-inch guard from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb., and will have two years of eligibility remaining when he joins UNM for the 2006-2007 season.
Oestreicher, Martinez and Henfield all signed their letters of intent in November.
Imadiyi led Corona del Sol High School to a 28-2 record and the Class 5A championship game this year. Former Lobo Lamont Long also came from Corona del Sol.
Imadiyi averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in addition to setting a school record with 68 blocks on the season.
He was voted the Central Region Player of the Year in Arizona and was named to the East Valley Tribune All-Area Team this season.
McKay said he has yet to decide what kind of role Imadiyi will fill next year, but that doesn't mean he won't get the chance to contribute right away.
"He'll definitely be playing for us," McKay said.
Imadiyi is such an appealing incoming player because he has an unlimited amount of potential, McKay said.
"As a freshman, what they're going to do scoringwise is difficult to determine, but he's got great upside," he said. "He's an excellent defensive player and a great shot blocker."
McKay has offered a scholarship to point guard Jamaal Smith from Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa, but Smith hasn't signed with the Lobos yet. Smith has visited UNM and Creighton University in the past few weeks.
UNM will have three available scholarships for next season. Joel Box, who will transfer to Division II Quincy University in Quincy, Ill., and Prochaska vacated theirs.
The other was taken away from Johnson for his role in a fight Downtown that landed him in trouble with the police.
UNM has 13 scholarships to give out. Other than Smith, McKay has said the last scholarship will go to sophomore Blake Harden or junior Kellen Walter unless another player is signed.
