Chris Sandifer Fails to Qualify at UTEP, Heading to Juco

It's been another tough recruiting offseason for the UTEP men's basketball team, and things didn't get any better today as news broke that the Miners will officially be without 4 star recruit Chris Sandifer who failed to qualify academically.

Although rumors have been swirling for months, CBS Sports' Jeff Borzello was first to report the news, also adding that Sandifer will instead be enrolling at Chipola College in Florida.

Sandifer was a highly regarded shooting guard out of Gardena, CA. He originally committed to play for Missouri in the summer of 2013 before reopening his recruiting and later signing with the Miners.

In related news, even though no official word has been given by the university, it is also believed that three star point guard Shaq Carr out of Las Vegas has also failed to qualify academically. Borzello reports he may be headed to Southern Idaho.

Also, former Miner recruit Victor Sanders, who committed to UTEP just weeks ago, has reportedly signed with the University of Idaho.

All is not lost in Miner Nation though. UTEP still brings in a strong recruiting class featuring standout three star guard Omega Harris, former Gatorade player of the year Trey Touchet, athletic point guard Lew Stallworth, power forward Terry Winn, and JUCO transfer Earvin Morris.

The losses of Sandifer, Carr, and previously Marqywell Jackson will not go unfelt though. All three players were expected to give the Miners an immediate boost.

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