Albuquerque Journal

Texas Guard Likes UNM
By Ken Sickenger, Journal Staff Writer

The UNM women's basketball shooting camp had a decided Texas twist Tuesday.
       
Among the 70-plus players honing their hoops marksmanship at Johnson Center were a pair of talented recruits from the Lone Star State. Caroline Durbin flew in to get a first look at Albuquerque, while Tina Doughty was back for a closer inspection.
       
Durbin, a 6-foot shooting guard, averaged 18 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a junior for Austin's Westlake High School last season. She was named District 25-5A MVP.
      
 Durbin said she met New Mexico's coaches during an AAU tournament in College Station, Texas, and later decided to attend the shooting camp. She's also being recruited by SMU, Tulane and Rice, but said her initial impression of New Mexico has been positive.
      
 “I'd never been here. It's nice,” said Durbin, who came to Albuquerque with her mother, Mary Alice. “The thing I've noticed is everyone's really into (Lobo women's basketball). We picked up a rental car and the people there knew the players and everything. That's cool.”
       
Durbin most wanted to learn more about UNM's program, but she said a little instruction could be beneficial, too. The three-day shooting camp emphasizes fundamentals and repetition.
       
“I'm starting to shoot more 3's,” she said, “so this is good for me.”
       
Doughty got a first look at UNM in June when she attended the women's basketball position camp. The 5-9 guard liked what she saw enough to return this week with both parents.
       
She's being recruited by Brigham Young, TCU and Vanderbilt, but when asked if her return trip to Albuquerque meant she was still interested in the Lobos, Doughty smiled.
      
 “Definitely,” she said.
       
A second-team All-District 4-5A performer as a sophomore last season, Doughty averaged 9.9 points and 10 rebounds at Granbury High School in the Fort Worth area. Her family tried to gain some perspective on Albuquerque, riding the tram on Monday evening.
       
Another UNM recruit attending this week's camp is 6-2 forward Ebony Walker of Sandia High School. Walker, who averaged 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds as a sophomore last season, is being courted by numerous Division I schools.
      
 NCAA rules prohibit UNM coach Don Flanagan from commenting on unsigned recruits, but he said he's been pleased with the shooting camp. Players ages 10 to 17 effectively filled the four courts at Johnson Center's south addition Tuesday.
     
  “I really enjoy this camp,” Flanagan said. “The kids are getting ready to go back to school and they seem pretty focused and ready to learn. Summers are pretty crazy for young players now, but this camp is short and seems to work out well.”