Lobos get two new players as school is starting

Men’s team is now up to scholarship allotment

Lobo basketball on Friday afternoon announced the addition of a freshman guard from Arizona and could be adding a junior college center who has committed to the team for the coming season.

First, UNM confirmed via news release a Journal report that Isaiah Marin, a 6-foot5 combo guard from Phoenix, has been admitted and arrived Friday ready to start classes Monday and join the 2020-21 team.

“I believe UNM is a great fit for me,” Marin said a statement from the school. “I believe UNM is not only going to help me on the court, but also in the classroom. Coach (Paul) Weir was solid during recruitment and he’s a coach who thinks bigger than basketball. Those are the things that initially attracted me to UNM.”

To be eligible for a semester, a player must be enrolled by the 12th day of classes, which Marin will clear with more than a week to spare.

Marin graduated from Buckeye (Ariz.)

Union High in 2019 and played this past season College Prep Academy in Sacramento, Calif. He had planned to play the coming season at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas and join UNM in 2021.

Instead, after the Lobos had two scholarships open up for the coming season — one due to the shooting death of Santa Fe High star J.B. White, who was to be an incoming freshman, and later the surprise transfer of leading returning scorer Zane Martin.

“Isaiah is a gifted young man with impressive size and skill for a guard,”

Weir said. “His commitment and loyalty to us throughout the summer has been humbling. We can’t wait to get him here and have him join our team. He is the total package that I hope will make him a great

Lobo.”

Late Friday afternoon, Adam Zagoria reported 6-10 Harcum College center Valdir Manuel had committed to UNM. Weir confirmed to the Journal the team is recruiting Manuel, but couldn’t comment further, indicating he has not yet been added to the roster.

Originally from Angola, Manuel committed to Seton Hall in 2018 as a four-star recruit out of The Patrick School in Elizabeth, N.J., an area Lobo assistant Dan McHale has deep recruiting ties. He went instead to Harcum College.

This past season, Manuel averaged 20.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 18 games before suffering a serious wrist injury.

He was committed to St. John’s in 2019 before Chris Mullin left that program and was signed with Penn State until late June.