Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
New Mexico (Projected: 2nd in MWC)
Richard Pitino engineered a successful rebuild at New Mexico over the past three seasons. In 2024, he lead the program to its first to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years. Now heading into 2024-25, he’ll look to build on last year and turn New Mexico into a consistent contender at the top of the Mountain West.
Star point guard Donovan Dent (14 ppg, 5 apg) is the headline returner for Pitino’s Lobo squad. Dent is an all-around great point guard, one with great ability to get to the rim and a terrific passer. Dent’s ability to create for himself and his teammates raises this team’s ceiling greatly. Senior center Nelly Junior Joseph (9 ppg, 8 rpg) is the other returning starter for the Lobos. Junior Joseph transferred in last season from Iona and had an instant impact as a physical paint presence for the Lobos.
A handful of bench guys also return for New Mexico, most notably forward Mustapha Amzil (7 ppg, 4 rpg) and guard Tru Washington (7 ppg). Amzil transferred in last season from Dayton and was a solid player off the bench in the frontcourt. Washington enjoyed a successful freshman season, playing a key role in parts of the season where other guards were injured. With a couple of key guards now out of the program, Washington should see a seismic leap as he steps into the starting lineup alongside Dent. Deeper bench pieces Braden Appelhans (3 ppg) and Quinton Webb (2 ppg) round out the list of returners for the Lobos.
Six players, including three starters, left the Lobos this offseason. Jaelen House (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg) and Jamal Mashburn Jr (14 ppg) both started their careers at different schools, but became household names during their time with the Lobos. Veteran guard Jemarl Baker Jr (4 ppg) also graduated this past spring, ending his college career. In the frontcourt, stud freshman JT Toppin (12 ppg, 9 rpg) left for Texas Tech, a major loss for the Lobos. Isaac Mushila (2 ppg) and Sebastian Forsling (1 ppg) conclude the list of departures.
Richard Pitino found four transfers in the portal this offseason as he looked to offset his losses. CJ Noland (11 ppg at North Texas) should have the biggest impact this season out of the class. Noland has spent time at both Oklahoma and North Texas over the last three seasons and is a solid scorer and good defender. Atiki Ally Atiki (4 ppg at BYU) is another transfer with just one year of eligibility left after playing limited minutes at BYU each of the past three seasons. Ally Atiki will at they very least be an experienced option in the frontcourt and provide a boost in rebounding for 10-15 minutes a game.
Filip Borovicanin (2 ppg at Arizona) continues the list of transfers, a Serbian big man who saw limited minutes at Arizona the past two seasons. A signature European commit for Tommy Lloyd, Borovicanin was never able to break through in the rotation at Arizona and will hope for an increased role at New Mexico. Ibrahima Sacko (2 ppg, 3 rpg at Georgia Tech) joins the Lobos after a solid freshman season at Georgia Tech. Sacko played just 11 mpg for the Yellow Jackets, but was an elite rebounder during his time on the floor and should be able to find minutes at New Mexico.
Four high school freshmen round out the incoming class for Richard Pitino. Guards Kayde Dotson and Dylan Chavez join the backcourt for the Lobos, as both could see decent minutes off the bench as freshmen. The Lobos’ frontcourt has a bit more depth, so it may be a bit tougher for forwards Jovan Milicevic and Daniel Thomas to find playing time, but I do like what Milicevic brings to the roster.
Richard Pitino has revived his coaching career at New Mexico over the past three seasons. After a tournament appearance last season, he must build on the momentum and keep New Mexico near the top of the Mountain West. With the amount of talent that returns, the expectation should be to reach the Big Dance once again.
Donovan Dent will be the guy in the backcourt this season with House and Mashburn Jr gone, and it may be for the better for both the team and for Dent. Dent should have an absolutely monster year and could be the favorite for Mountain West Player of the Year. Next to him though is the guy I see as the biggest X-factor for this New Mexico team, Tru Washington. Washington had plenty of big games in the beginning of his freshman season while Deng was injured, and now he’ll be called upon to play heavy minutes alongside Dent. If Washington is up for the challenge and can be a more efficient scorer than Jamal Mashburn Jr last season, the Lobos could be the favorites in the Mountain West.
With Dent, Junior Joseph, Washington, and Amzil all back, Richard Pitino has a squad that should reach the NCAA Tournament once again and contend for the Mountain West title. I’ve got the Lobos to finish second in the conference, although I believe they are neck and neck with my current league favorite, Boise State.