Introducing The Lobo Freshmen

Welcome to the Lobo fishbowl. Without a single collegiate game or practice under their collective belts, Emily Stark, Jourdan Erskine, Chinyere Nnaji and Caroline Durbin got a taste of what it's like to be members of the University of New Mexico women's basketball team Thursday. The four incoming freshmen were on hand for the final minutes of the Lobos' Individual Camp at Johnson Center. They didn't instruct and weren't even introduced to the 88 young campers. Nonetheless, they were swarmed for autographs. "We can't even work with them yet, and they're already signing autographs," UNM coach Don Flanagan said. "I'd hoped they'd at least score 20 points before they started signing basketballs." That said, Flanagan holds out hope that his latest crop of recruits will earn a degree of celebrity among Lobo fans. The four freshman signees recently started summer school and have begun workouts in the UNM weight room. The new players range in height from 5-foot-11 (Durbin) to 6-5 (Stark) and all are willing and able to run the court. "That's been a focus of our recruiting," Flanagan said, "to get more athletic and get a little team speed. We feel like this group can help us with that. Of course, you don't know for sure until they get out on the court." Jordan Unverzagt, a 6-2 post from St. Pius, also agreed to join the Lobos as a walk-on next season, bringing the number of incoming freshman to five. Flanagan cannot comment on or even confirm walk-on players until they start fall classes, but Unverzagt, who averaged 12 points and seven rebounds per game last season, confirmed her plans to become a Lobo. Here's a quick introduction to UNM's other four incoming freshmen. Emily Stark (6-5 post) Senior season: Stark transferred from Colorado's Class 3A Grand Junction to 5A Highlands Ranch last season and averaged 10 points and eight rebounds. Her team finished 24-3 and reached the Class 5A final four. Stark was named second-team All-Continental League despite missing several games with an ankle injury. Her team won Colorado's academic state championship. "It was a really great season and reminded me how much fun it is to play," Stark said. On-court strength? "Post defense." Why UNM? "The coaching staff and the girls, their desire to always improve." Most people don't know: "I'm a daddy's girl." Jourdan Erskine (6-foot guard) Senior season: Erskine had a solid season for Michigan's Saginaw Heritage, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. She was a first-team All-Saginaw Valley selection despite her team's 10-14 record. Erskine also stood out in volleyball and her team was more successful, but she said playing college basketball was a no-brainer. "I love basketball much more," Erskine said. "Our team was young, but we didn't play up to the level we should have." On-court strength? "Rebounding." Why UNM? "The coaching staff is very positive and encouraging." Most people don't know: "I really, really like ice cream." Chinyere Nnaji (6-1 guard) Senior season: It was an up-and-down campaign for Nnaji and Texas' Plano Senior High School. Nnaji enjoyed her first healthy season since 2005-06, when she was named District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. Shoulder and knee surgeries curtailed her next two seasons and caused powerhouse programs like Oklahoma to cool their recruiting efforts. Nnaji bounced back to average 11 points and eight rebounds as a senior, earning second-team all-district honors. A Wildcats team loaded with freshmen and sophomores finished 13-16, however. "It didn't go as well as we thought it would," Nnaji said, "but it felt really good to finally be healthy." On-court strength? "Defense." Why UNM? "I love the atmosphere (in Albuquerque). It's very different from Dallas, Texas. Most people don't know: "I don't know how to swim." Caroline Durbin (5-11 guard) Senior season: Durbin's stats (13 points, 5.5 rebounds per game) dipped a bit from her junior year, but her Austin Westlake team excelled, finishing 29-5 and reaching round two of the Class 5A Region IV playoffs. Durbin was an alldistrict player who has been selected to play in this summer's Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Game. She shot 40 percent from 3-point range. "My stats weren't as good but I didn't care because the team was much better," Durbin said. "We won a playoff game for the first time since I'd been there. It was a fun season." On-court strength? "I like transition." Why UNM? "Basketball atmosphere. I love the fans." Most people don't know: "I hit a half-court shot (at the halftime buzzer) in our playoff game against San Antonio Jay." Durbin scored 20 of her team's 35 points in the contest.