April 21, 2008
McKines getting some serious attention
Calling all coaches. Can anyone use a physical force in the paint who backs away from no challenge? How about the quickest leaper around who in 18-plus minutes a game in his freshman season scored 6.4 points a contest on .574 percent shooting and grabbed 5.9 rebounds each time out, including 95 out of his 207 total on the offensive end?
Wendell McKines
Yes, the line forms on the right.
By now, most Bay Area basketball fans have heard or read that former Richmond High forward Wendell McKines has decided to depart New Mexico State University.
Speculation has run rampant that he’s heading to college X or university Y. It’s reached such a level that it’s near miraculous that someone hasn’t posted somewhere that McKines is forsaking basketball and college to become a mixed martial arts performer.
McKines shoots over a Nevada defender during the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament
Actually, this is what is up with him. "I plan on visiting St. Mary’s some time next week and Southern Illinois is interested," McKines said, adding "I see there is a new coach at USF and he may be looking for players. Plus, I’ve heard that San Diego State may have some interest." So that’s what’s on his calendar and on his mind to date.
The school year in Las Cruces concludes on May 9 and McKines hopes to have chosen his new destination just before or around that time.
McKines noted "[New Mexico State] Coach [Marvin] Menzies is a great guy and I have a lot of love for him and also for the University. A number of people here helped me get cleared to play and I really appreciate that."
But McKines now realizes that the elements of business and sometimes even politics are part of college basketball and he is looking for a situation more favorable to him.
Asked about the differences he has experienced one year removed from high school basketball, he said, "Guys are taller, bigger, better and more skilled at this level and there are scouting reports so that your weaknesses are known to opponents and vice versa," which led him to offer what he plans on doing this summer and during the year in which he will be redshirting. "I’m going to be real, real serious, I’ll be running a lot, working on my ballhandling and my perimeter game, just trying to make my game more fluid."
Our prediction: averaging a double-double is in store for McKines in 2009-2010 and beyond. We just don’t know where -- but that will be answered soon enough.