Hoops in Mexico
Former Lobo Sam Logwood starts pro career south of the border
The 2,000-seat Auditorio del Pueblo in Durango, Mexico, isn’t exactly Dreamstyle Arena — The Pit.
And for this brief next stop in the basketball journey of former University of New Mexico basketball starter Sam Logwood, that’s just fine.
The recent UNM graduate and Indianapolis native, who made 81 starts for the Lobos over the past four seasons and led them scoring this past season at 13.0 points per game, made his professional debut Wednesday night, about 900 miles south of Albuquerque for the Aguilas Doradas de Durango of Mexico’s CIBACOPA League.
The stat line for the 6-foot-8 small forward was familiar one of 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting with five rebounds, a steal and a block in 24 minutes off the bench for the Dorados, who lost 87-86 to Pioneros de Los Mochis.
Logwood’s time in Mexico will be limited, but he hopes fruitful. The season ends in three weeks, and he may only play a total of eight games on a roster with no players he knew before heading there a week ago.
“This is short term — three to four more weeks,” Logwood said. “Took a different route. I could have stayed home and worked out and waited until August (to try and start a professional career next season), or go play and make some money, get some film on me, and experience, and also stay in shape. I have also always wanted to travel the world, so I said why not?”
After completing courses at UNM, where he earned a degree in interpersonal communications, Logwood signed with Switzerland-based international agent Stephano Lips.
Logwood seems to have a good idea where he’ll be playing overseas next season, but nothing is finalized. And long term? His goal is the same as it’s always been, to work toward getting a shot at an NBA roster. And if he gets to see the world while chasing that dream, he’s all for it.
“It’s always been something I’ve always wanted to try and do,” he said of traveling. “There are a few things in my game that I also need to fix to get to the
NBA, which is my ultimate goal. Playing now will give me some film to show bigger teams overseas. I have a good idea where I’ll end up over there.”
The Aguilas Doradas (Golden Eagles), not unlike this past season’s Lobos squad under first year head coach Paul Weir, are hightempo, which is much to Logwood’s liking.
“I like how the team try’s to get out and run,” he said. “There are a few guys who are athletic and love transition like me.”
Ultimately, though, the business trip south of the border is about development for bigger opportunities overseas next season. And that means expanding his 3-point shot — something he all but eliminated from his game this past season with the Lobos when he attempted just 11 shots beyond the arc after having taken 123 of them in his first three seasons.
Finding that 3-point form, he realizes, is what many professional teams want to see from him.
“That’s always been my biggest knock but I’m embracing it fully and working as hard as I can to get better,” said Logwood. “I’m just thankful to be able to play basketball around the world and getting paid to do so.”
THE CHAMP IS HERE: Los Alamos High and UNM graduate Alex Kirk made it back to the United States this week after spending the last 10 months playing for Alvark Tokyo in Japan.
Kirk two weeks ago was named the Finals MVP of the Japanese B-League last week and was also all-league honorable mention after finishing in the top 10 in the league in scoring (16.2 points per game), rebounding (8.8) and blocked shots (1.3). In the championship victory, Kirk scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
GOING CAMPING: It’s camping season and several are kicking off around the Davalos Center and the Pit next week. Information, including times and cost, on all of the Lobo men’s basketball team camps can be found online at www.CoachPaulWeir.com.
The first set of camps starts Monday with kids individual camps (grades 1-8). A camp for grades 9-12 will be June 8-9. Team caps run June 14-17. A camp in Santa Fe is June 23-24 and a father and son/daughter camp will be held June 30.
Current and former Lobos, and current coaches, help run each camp.