by Mark Smith Journal Staff Writer , Albuquerque Journal

Rusher, who is still waiting to be cleared by the NCAA to play for the Lobos this fall, is attending summer school at UNM. Coach Steve Alford said that Rusher, who participated - and looked very good - in the recent Lobo Elite Camp, has an old injury in his left hand and had surgery last Thursday after the camp.

"He had some problems with it during the camp," Alford said. "And when he took his physical, which all players get, they did an X-ray and found some minor ligament damage from an old injury. The doctors wanted to fix it now instead of waiting."

Alford said Rusher will miss three to four weeks of workouts.

UNM assistant Craig Neal said "the surgery was mostly just clean-up. It turned out even better than we expected."

Rusher, who committed to the Lobos nearly two years ago and officially signed with them last fall, has been battling to get academically eligible to play Division I basketball. He has completed all the necessary work and is just waiting for the NCAA to give him clearance.

"I've learned a great lesson about patience," Rusher told the Journal. "It was a lesson I needed. Now I'm much more patient than I ever was before."

RECRUITING: The Lobos have offered scholarships to a pair of players who attended the Elite Camp: Cheir Ajou, a 7-foot center from the Sudan who played high school ball in Alabama last year, and Austin Etherington, a 6-6 forward from Hamilton Heights in Arcadia, Ind.

Etherington also has an offer from Xavier.

SCHOLARSHIP COUNT: UNM has 13 scholarship players, but will be down to 12 if Kem Nweke receives a medical exemption, as anticipated, from the NCAA. Nweke came to UNM for the 2007-08 season, but sat out each of the past two years with knee injuries and is planning to give up the game.

If he receives the medical hardship, he can remain on scholarship but it won't count toward the Lobos' limit.

HOBSON ARRIVAL: Darrington Hobson, who signed with UNM in 2007 but didn't get academic clearance from the NCAA, is expected to attend UNM summer school in early July. The 6-7 Hobson has spent the past two seasons at the College of Eastern Utah and is projected to be a starter for the Lobos in the fall.

CAMP TO CAMP: Alford has been busy with camps this month. After the Elite Camp he headed to his native Franklin, Ind., to conduct the 23rd annual Steve Alford Basketball Camp at Franklin College. On Thursday, he and his coaching staff will host the Lobo Team Camp for high school squads from New Mexico, West Texas and El Paso.

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