NMSU signs Kabongo

From NM State Sports: New Mexico State men’s basketball coach Marvin Menzies has signed Christian Kabongo to a National Letter of Intent, he announced Friday, April 30. Kabongo is a 6-4 combination guard from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“(Assistant coach) Paul (Weir) has done an excellent job by bringing Christian Kabongo to the table,” head coach Marvin Menzies said. “Christian is the exact student-athlete that we need in order to replace Jonathan (Gibson) and Jahmar (Young). He is an athletic, scoring guard that should also give us quality minutes at the point guard position.”

Kabongo joins the Aggies this fall from Central Commerce Collegiate Institute in Toronto. The Hoop Scoop named him the No. 4 ranked fifth-year player in the Class of 2010. As a sophomore, Kabongo scored a personal-best 58 points in a single game. In July 2008, Kabongo and his AAU team, Grassroots Canada, won the adidas Super 64 Tournament.

In addition to Kabongo, the 2010 Class includes Tshilidzi Nephawe, a 6-10 center from Johannesburg, South Africa, that signed during the fall period.

All WAC team announced

From NM State Sports:

New Mexico State men’s basketball junior guard Jahmar Young, senior guard Jonathan Gibson and junior forward Wendell McKines have earned All-WAC honors, which the nine conference coaches voted on, the league office announced, Sunday, March 7.

Young was named to the first team for the second consecutive year after leading the Aggies with 20.9 points per game. Gibson garnered second team accolades with 17.8 points per contest. McKines was an honorable mention selection with a WAC-high 9.8 rebounds per game in conference contests. This is the first year since the 2005-06 season that the Aggies have had multiple all-league honorees.

“I’m happy for the guys and their accomplishments,” head coach Marvin Menzies said. “To finish second in the conference and be recognized for these accolades is a step in the right direction for the program. Jahmar has been a steady force for us all season long. Being recognized to the first team is very fitting for him.

“Jonathan’s ability to score the ball with such consistency has boded well for us, and it’s nice for him to be selected in his senior year,” Menzies said. “Wendell’s work ethic, heart and hustle earned him a place on the honorable mention team. Hopefully, that will motivate him to continue that and help us to win more games next year.”

2009-10 WAC Men’s Basketball Postseason Award Winners

All-Conference

First Team
Luke Babbitt, Nevada, F, 6-9, 225, So., Reno, Nev. (Galena HS)
Jahmar Young, New Mexico State, G, 6-4, 180, Jr., Baltimore, Md. (Laurinberg Prep)
Adrian Oliver, San Jose State, G, 6-4, 210, Jr., Modesto, Calif. (Washington)
Jared Quayle, Utah State, G, 6-1, 180, Sr., Perry, Utah (Western Wyoming CC)
Tai Wesley, Utah State, F, 6-7, 240, Jr., Provo, Utah (Provo HS)

Second Team
Paul George, Fresno State, G/F, 6-8, 215, So., Palmdale, Calif. (Pete Knight HS)
Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-5, 205, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Dorsey HS)
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, F/C, 6-11, 220, Sr., Freeport, Bahamas (LSU)
Armon Johnson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 195, Jr., Reno, Nev. (Hug HS)
Jonathan Gibson, New Mexico State, G, 6-1, 171, Sr., West Covina, Calif. (Calvary Christian)

Honorable Mention
Daequon Montreal, Boise State, F, 6-8, 220, Jr., Syracuse, N.Y. (College of Southern Idaho)
Sylvester Seay, Fresno State, F, 6-10, 235, Sr., San Bernardino, Calif. (Arizona State)
Roderick Flemings, Hawai‘i, F, 6-7, 210, Sr., Dallas, Texas (Weatherford College)
Mac Hopson, Idaho, G, 6-2, 185, Sr., Portland, Ore. (Washington State)
Wendell McKines, New Mexico State, F, 6-6, 224, Jr., Oakland, Calif. (Richmond HS)

Player of the Year: Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Freshman of the Year: Greg Smith, Fresno State
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Stew Morrill, Utah State

All-Defensive Team
Marvin Jefferson, Idaho, C, 6-10, 245, Sr., Merced, Calif. (Modesto JC)
Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-5, 205, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Dorsey HS)
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, F/C, 6-11, 220, Sr., Freeport, Bahamas (LSU)
Dario Hunt, Nevada, F, 6-8, 230, So., Colorado Springs, Colo. (Charis Prep)
Pooh Williams, Utah State, G/F, 6-3, 200, Jr., Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way HS)

All-Newcomer Team
Daequon Montreal, Boise State, F, 6-8, 220, Jr., Syracuse, N.Y. (College of Southern Idaho)
Greg Smith, Fresno State, C, 6-10, 250, Fr., Fresno, Calif. (Westwind Academy/Edison HS)
DeAndre Brown, Louisiana Tech, G, 5-11, 160, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas (Navarro JC)
Nate Bendall, Utah State, F, 6-9, 245, Jr., Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake CC)
Brian Green, Utah State, G, 6-1, 195, Jr., Kaysville, Utah (Salt Lake CC)

Big TU to Parsing the Wac

BITZ has been remiss in not giving a shout out to Kevin McCarthy, the dean of WAC bloggers, at Parsing the WAC, for giving BITZ a recommendation on his excellent blog.