Bulldog commits to the Lobos
Forward Cunningham gains recruiting interest this summer
He made Noodles shout. When Albuquerque High junior Marlon Cunningham — the young, big and full of potential power forward who has been picking up recruiting steam this summer — told UNM men’s basketball coach Craig Neal on Sunday he intended to stay home and play for the Lobos, the coaches’ reaction told the story.
“He yelled across the room, ‘He’s in! He’s in!’” Cunningham said of the moment he gave his verbal commitment to play for UNM at the basketball team offices.
“Then they (the UNM assistants) all came running into the office right away and everyone was pretty happy.”
The NCAA doesn’t allow UNM coaches to comment on recruits until they have signed a national letter of intent. In Cunningham’s case that can’t happen, at the earliest, until November 2017 as a high school senior.
Cunningham is an intriguing local prospect who is no stranger to the Pit. He has played in the gym not only once as a freshman at Sandia High School, but also numerous times as a participant in skills camps through the years put on by the likes of Danny Granger, Tony Snell and most recently Cameron Bairstow.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound forward sat out varsity action last season per an New Mexico Activities Association ruling after he transferred from Sandia. But that didn’t prevent him from picking up interest on the summer circuit playing for a club team out of Texas (Nike Team Texas). So why the Lobos? “First off, the biggest thing for me is home,” said Cunningham, who said he’s been going to Lobo games since he was 4-years-old with different family members.
“I can get the college life experience but still just be a phone call away for a nice home-cooked meal,” he said.
Cunningham said Neal has told him he likes his quick feet and ability to run for such a big player. And Neal’s emphasis on points in transition intrigues him, though at his size, he’s been more of a classic post player in his limited high school experience.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t, or doesn’t want, to run.
“I run with the guards, but I do consider myself a post,” said Cunningham, who said his game could be a cross between Alex Kirk and Kenny Thomas, two in-state kids who played for the Lobos.
But long before he makes his first walk down the Pit ramp as a Lobo, Cunningham said his focus first is on trying to help his high school make a run of its own in the arena, where the state’s high school state tournament is played.
“I’m excited for this high school season,” Cunningham said. “I’m going to make sure, personally, I’m going to be the best teammate I can be.”