Basketball Commitment

[50's PONY]

Headed to SMU
by Jeff Goodman of Scout.com, November 15, 2005 at 8:48am ET

Menghe Nyam Profile

Menghe (Papi) Nyam, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior forward at New Hampton (N.H.) from Cameroon, signed with SMU on Monday.
``Papi has improved tremendously," New Hampton coach Jamie Arsenault coach. "He continues to be a very good slasher and his outside shot has gotten better."

Nyam chose SMU over Southern Mississippi and Loyola-Illinois.

``He liked the whole package," Arsenault said

[friarwolf]

Honestly, is anyone excited about a guy from Cameroon by way of a high school in NH? Is this the best we can expect? Another "athlete" who can slash to the basket?????? I want to throw up............

[Hoop Fan]

I'm not excited about it either, mainly because I dont know anything about him. I want Dallas kids if we can get them. When we dont, we have to sign the best players we can sign whether they come from Cameroon or the moon. The New Hampshire prep school he comes from is a good program with some international players. Didnt we always say we wished SMU basketball would take advantage of foriegn players like our track and swimming programs had been so successful in doing? Also, on the surface choosing us over Southern Miss and Loyola is not encouraging, but remember who is the coach at Southern Miss now. If Larry Eustacy liked the kid, that says a little something I think.

[mustangbill67]

Tubbs seemed really excited about this guy at the Mustang Club reception. Time will tell

[smupony]

News from New Hampton's website on their first game:

The New Hampton Huskies started their 2005-06 season with a tough hard fought loss to the hands of Bridgton Academy. The season opener was an exciting display of New England Class "A" Basketball. New Hampton took control of the game early but gave up a big run to the Wolverines to end the half trailing by one, 39-38. The huskies fought hard to start the second half and took a three-point lead but the Wolverines took control of the game and never let up. A couple of short runs by the huskies were nullified by a good shooting Bridgton Academy team. Leading scorers for the Huskies were TJ Topercer with 23 points, Papy Menghe with 16 points Brady Moringstar with 13 points. The Huskies lace it up again tomorrow against MCI in another Class A battle. Game time is 6:00 PM.

[50's PONY]

The Brady Morningstar listed above has signed with Kansas so it looks like they have a pretty good team.

[EastStang]

Patrick Ewing went to one of those New England prep schools. He turned out to be a pretty good choice. I think some of the GW players of recent vintage have been from those schools. I don't really care if we get kids from Dallas, New Hampshire, Chicago, DC, or California. If they can play and help the team, I want them. 6'6" 210 is a nice frame to build on.

[Corso]

.... When we dont, we have to sign the best players we can sign whether they come from Cameroon or the moon....

Exactly. It doesn't matter if this guy is from Oak Cliff or a Himalayan cliff. If he can play, he can play.

.... If Larry Eustacy liked the kid, that says a little something I think.

I agree. After you wade through the punchlines about this guy's social life, his track record indicates he can identify and recruit some talented players. Hopefully this is one of them.

[RGV Pony]

``He liked the whole package," Arsenault said

What package?

Ford? Heritage Hall? Bridwell Library?

[abezontar]

the lack of snow and a nearby grocery store?

[Stallion]

some of you always jump to the conclusion that if Tubbs wanted him he must be great. Well just remember Tubbs wanted about 15-20 other guys more. Tubbs is reaching far into his Most Wanted List to sign these guys.

[Pony_Fan]

Thanks Stallion for the obvious. He is obviously not getting it done. As we know, close does not work in recruiting.

[couch 'em]

``He liked the whole package," Arsenault said

What package?

Ford? Heritage Hall? Bridwell Library?

enough horney white chicks for everyone!

[Hoop Fan]

Thanks Stallion for the obvious. He is obviously not getting it done. As we know, close does not work in recruiting.

Some of you guys must not have a real good idea of the reality of the situation. Did you really think Tubbs was going to come in here and automatically knock down 4-star recruits as if nobody else is out there recruiting? He will hit on some over time, but it still takes a somewhat unique kid and situation to pick SMU these days over prime BCS offers, ESPECIALLY with our antiquated basketball facility. In the meantime, Tubbs is doing what he has to do to change the personality of this team from a roster basically void of a true pass first point guard, pure shooters OR natural rebounders when Dement left. You tell me how that works when as a program you dont have shooters or rebounders. There isnt a game plan known to man that can beat many good teams like that. Tubbs is recruiting a balance of rebounders (Morris), shooters (Epps and Williams), a true point guard (Dez) and a shot blocker (Fall). Does everybody want 4 stars? Yes. I want more Dallas kids. But I realize the challenge of the job for what it is. And close does count in recruiting. He is in the mix ALOT, not just on one or two guys. Sooner or later that will pay off. If Bennett was sniffing half the local talent Tubbs is alot of you guys would be wetting yourselves.

[SoCal_Pony]

Some of you guys must not have a real good idea of the reality of the situation.

I’m calling BS on that one HF. I think most on this board fully comprehend the obstacles PB and Tubbs face, certainly those critical of this signee on this thread.

Problem is recruiting players who only receive offers from So Miss and Loyola-Illinois is equivalent to PB receiving commitments from players whose only other offer is SFA. Spin it all you want, but at the end of the day we are left with ‘more of the same’…i.e. losing.

Just looked up So Miss and Loyola-Illinois’s Saragin ratings from last year; they are 170 and 221 respectively…..great.

And one final note…I think we are all fully versed on the ‘Momentum Rule’ for new coaches at SMU. If this is the best Tubbs can do it is a bad omen.