Written by: Jason Groves/Sun-News Reporter
LAS CRUCES - Spending time in high major programs has made an impact on New Mexico State University men's basketball coach.
Menzies was hired as a first-time Division I coach in large part to a successful career recruiting, which he has proven in his short time in Las Cruces.
Menzies, like those that he has worked under, likes to get the most of his talent.
"I like the idea of bringing in recruits and them not playing for a year so they can understand what college life is like," Menzies said. "Utilizing the Doña Ana Community College, we have been able to bring in some kids who weren't initial qualifiers out of high school."
With current redshirts Troy Gillenwater, Hamidu Rahman and Robert Lumpkins already at the branch campus, Menzies added two more guards in the last month. Terrance Joyner (Genesis One in Missisippi) and Faisal Aden (God's Academy in Dallas) are the latest two additions.
Joyner and Aden came to Las Cruces for the spring semester, where they have had an opportunity to improve academically after leaving prep schools, which have become under more scrutiny from the NCAA.
"It's a huge advantage because I get to see how things work so I won't be lost next year when I'm playing," said Aden, who committed verbally on Jan. 9.
Both guards are currently not eligible. NCAA Clearinghouse issues led to Joyner being released from his letter-of-intent from Arkansas in mid-January.
"There was a policy at the university (Arkansas) where I couldn't get cleared to play until I was admitted to the university," said Joyner, who committed verbally to NMSU on Jan. 24.
Joyner said the release was a mutual agreement. He said he expects to gain academic clearance in the next month.
"I don't know if they felt comfortable with the flux of his grades," Menzies said.
With five seniors finishing their eligibility this year at NMSU, roster spots could be up for grabs in the backcourt.
"I feel that if we have good competition at that position, it will produce a better product," Menzies said.
The 6-foot-2 Joyner is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com. He said he received offers from Oklahoma and Tennessee. He went on an official visit to the University of New Mexico over the summer before settling on Arkansas, where he made an unofficial visit in June.
Joyner said Menzies was also in the recruiting mix, and that once he was released from his letter of intent at Arkansas, he contacted Menzies and said he was still interested in becoming an Aggie.
After two years at Taft High School in Las Angeles, where current Lakers guard Jordan Farmar played, Joyner transferred to Genesis One in Mendenhaul, Miss., where he said he averaged 25 points and eight assists with a career high 41 points this year before leaving for Las Cruces. Joyner said he graduated from the prep school in December.
"It was great competition," Joyner said. "We played junior colleges an prep schools."
Joyner said his strengths as a player are ball handling, penetration, passing and he can shoot well off the dribble.
Joyner said being on campus has helped him get ready for next season.
"I'm glad that I came early so that I could see the competition in the WAC," Joyner said. "I think it's a pretty good conference and I think it will be better next season."
Aden is a San Diego, Calif., native who transferred to God's Academy for his junior and senior seasons.
"It was better for me because you travel and you play against top teams and players," Aden said. "I just developed a relationship with Coach Menzies through my AAU coach."
Menzies said Aden will be cleared academically in mid-December of 2008, so he will miss some early games next season.
Aden said he was scoring around 40 points per game before leaving God's Academy.
"I'm more of a scorer," Aden said. "I'm more of a scorer. Coaches like to put me at the two, but I can handle the ball well."
Aden said he had offers from Fresno State and San Diego State, as well as interest from Southern California.
"I started to get a lot of looks late," Aden said.
Joyner and Aden join Gillenwater, Rahman, Lumpkins and current high school senior Chris Gabriel in Menzies' 2008 recruiting class. A class that already has a jump on student life in Las Cruces.
"That's one of the main reasons I came here because no other schools can do that," Aden said.
Jason Groves can be reached at jgroves@lcsun-news.com
