UTEP 2 STEP: Tim Floyd Steals One From the Big East; Michael Perez UTEP Bound
by Adrian Mac on Aug 23, 2010 11:01 AM MDT
in UTEP Miners Basketball
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PrintJust yesterday, news of Rashanti Harris' rumored ineligibility forced me to reassess the state of the coming UTEP Miners men's basketball team. Yesterday was undoubtedly a step back for the program as our suddenly thin front court appeared to lose Harris due to academic reasons. Today, however, the Miners received a much needed boost to the backcourt as Pueblo (Tucson) shooting guard Michael Perez officially began classes at UTEP. Perez, according to his twitter account, just recently decommitted from St. Johns and he announced, again via twitter, that he signed with UTEP yesterday.
Perez is a 6'3 shooting guard known for being a tremendous leaper. He flew under the radar on the recruiting circuit and seemed destined to land at a junior college. Then, he began to make a name for himself on the AAU circuit. According to the Tucson Citizen:
Perez, 6-foot-3, who has tremendous jumping ability and averaged 29.9 points and 8.1 rebounds a game last season, had never visited New York when the offer came during the AAU showcase month.
Newly hired coaches, desperate to fill roster spots, soon discovered Perez who was one of the top uncommitted targets in the nation after signing day. St. Johns head coach, Steve Lavin, saw Perez at an AAU Tournament and offered him immediately. His best offer at the time was a chance to walk-on at UTEP. The Miners didn't have an available scholarship to give to Perez until now- a week after Myron Strong was dismissed from the squad. Lavin, also, reportedly couldn't wait this late in the summer to wait to see if Perez would be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Perez was cleared last week and signed a LOI with UTEP on Sunday.
Rivals rates Perez as a three star prospect. The Tucson Citizen, in a separate article described his game:
The 6-3 Perez appears to be capable of playing either guard spot, but could wind up being a very nice scoring point guard for the right system. He’s already got a good build and is able to use his strength to get to the hoop. He’s not the most explosive athlete, but is quick enough to play for a D-I low major. He’s got a decent outside shot that should get more reliable with practice and coaching.
At the SWS Senior Showcase, Hoops Report was very impressed with Perez.
Perez has the total package. Mike was a top 5 performer in this event. Mike shoots it very well mid or long range, handles the ball well, very athletic and has a very good mental game to go along with all of his physical attributes. Perez is definitely a mid major prospect possibly a high major prospect depending on the program.
If you didn't believe that Perez could jump, watch this short video clip showing 2, 360 degree dunks he had in a game.
Lastly, here are some more highlights, including some game tape from Perez.
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Nice get...
29.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg….nice numbers! Clarify how this went down if you can. Specifically, “Lavin couldn’t wait this late in the summer to wait to see if Perez would be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse”. Does that mean that Lavin released him from the squad and that’s how we were available to re-open our recruitment of him or did he come to us unsolicited? As I understand it, he was offered a scholarship by SJU, so how could Lavin have recinded it, if that’s what happened?
I think he was offered a scholarship
But never actually signed a LOI because I think St. Johns was waiting for him to get cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. After he was cleared, UTEP suddenly had a scholarship, and I think he then decommitted (it was non-binding) and signed a LOI with UTEP. The Tucson report isn’t clear on that quote, but as far as Perez’s comments are concerned, he had a chance to sign with St. Johns this week but “de-committed” because “UTEP was a better fit.”
I know that Perez had never been to New York before he was offered by Lavin. I think playing a few hours away, in El Paso, may have had a lot to do with it- but he clearly wanted a scholarship which UTEP couldn’t offer until now.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Makes sense....
After some additional research, that’s what appears happened. The way the report initially read, it appeared that he had signed with SJU but it wasn’t clear how we were able to sign him thereafter if he hadn’t been officially released by Lavin & Co.
Here's some info...
ESPN Insider reports: UTEP lands Mike Perez for incoming class
According to Chad Groth of www.areacodesbasketball.com, unsigned senior guard Mike Perez is expected to ink scholarship papers with UTEP this week.
Perez flew under the radar, Groth noted, and did not have any scholarship offers following his high school season. He wound up playing for the renowned Compton (Calif.) Magic AAU club this summer and received heavy interest from UTEP, St. John’s, Oregon and Rhode Island.
“Perez and his father Frank drove into El Paso, TX early Sunday morning and his bags were packed ready to sign and be a miner,” Groth said. “Christian Polk, another Phoenix area player, knew of Mike Perez and with a scholarship available it was a perfect fit.”
Good stuff- thanks for posting-
I didn’t realize Oregon was in the mix too…I guess Lavin got Dwayne Polee but we got Perez. I think he looks like a good player in the long term for us- not sure if his shooting is where it needs to be yet to play a lot this year, but with Strong out- you never know! I don’t see him redshirting- that’s for sure.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Solid Commit for the Miners
Although, I hadn’t heard anything about Perez prior to today, he sounds like a scoring Machine. Should be able to give Randy a breather now and then without us skipping a beat. His videos show his athleticism, and being from Tucson he fits in perfectly here in El Paso (only a couple hours from home).
However, it doesn’t solve the problem of our lack of depth in the frontcourt. Without Harris (assuming reports are correct), we’re left with Claude Britten, Wayne Portelatin, and John Bohannon as the only “true” big men. Jeremy Williams and Michael Haynes provide some help, but lack size. Someone (or two), is going to need to fill some really big shoes.
Wishful thinking but…Does UTEP still have an available scholarship for the possibility of DeAndre Daniels joining the squad? That’d give us some extra help down in the post.
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