Lobo hoops notebook: Chol liking his fit with Olen's Lobos

There’s no question why the past two UNM Lobos coaching staffs recruited Antonio Chol so aggressively.

It’s the same reason dozens of high major programs around the country did so over the past year as Chol put together an All-American season at Garden City Community College in Kansas — where averages of 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 made 3-pointers per game at a 39.7% shooting clip from beyond the arc earned him the honor of being ranked the No. 5 junior college player in the country by JucoRecruiting.com.

Chol is every bit of the 6-foot-9, 210-pounds he’s listed as on the roster and with the ability to defend, rebound, get out in transition, knock down 3-pointers and out-athlete just about anyone on the floor. He certainly could star in any number of a playing systems or styles.

But Eric Olen’s system, he says, made the most sense, and signs of that potentially-perfect fit have started to appear a lot more regularly in recent weeks as the Lobos 2025-26 season draws near.

“The vision he had; it creates offense and defense, together,” Chol said this week about playing in Olen’s system — one that is still largely a mystery to Lobo fans and opponents as the program undergoes a complete turnover of its roster and coaching staff this offseason.

“Obviously, he’s a great coach. He plays fast. He wants to turn people over and get out in transition,” Chol said.

All of which, he said, are things that appeal to the mismatches his body and skillset seem to create on their own.

But those mismatches aren’t a secret on the Chol scouting report. He’s shown glimpses of that brilliance for years.

Consistency — and turning glimpses of brilliance into common occurrences — is the challenge at hand for Chol, and in a lot of ways, the Lobos, to reach their full potential.

So, where does that begin?

“I think rebounding can really help this team’s success because when we get the rebound, we could just get out (and run in transition) quicker — take one dribble, outlet and we can play,” Chol said.

“I think rebounding will really help me, personally, and obviously (us) as a team.”

Haupt podcast

In Episode 118 of the Journal’s Talking Grammer podcast, sixth-year college guard Luke Haupt — who played at Division II Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego during COVID and through a medial redshirt season after tearing his ACL — showed off the basketball IQ, leadership qualities and confidence that have the Lobo coaching staff buzzing about his potential this season.

And the coach’s son — father Mike Haupt is one of California’s winningest active high school basketball coaches with 630 wins to his credit — also knows what he sees in this Lobo team.

“I think we can be really special,” Luke Haupt said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can really go. I came here because I want to make the (NCAA) Tournament and I want to make a run in the (NCAA) Tournament. I don’t see why this team can’t do that.”

Media poll

The Mountain West preseason media poll — picking a predicted order of finish for all 12 teams as well as a 10-player all-conference team along with preseason Player, Newcomer and Freshman of the Year honors — will be released next Thursday (Oct. 23) at the league’s annual media day event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Based on familiarity, or a general lack thereof, there aren’t expected to be many Lobos garnering preseason player awards other than possibly Utah State transfer guard Deyton Albury.

Though the ballots have already been turned in, both Haupt and Chol had some praise of the Lobos’ expected starting point guard heading into the season.

“Deyton, that dude is hard to stop,” Haupt said on the Talking Grammer podcast. “I think of myself as a pretty good defender and I’ll be in front of him one second and he’ll be at the rim the next second. It’s special. Not everybody can do that.

“I’m excited to see what he can do against not his own teammates.”

In a media scrum on Wednesday at UNM, Chol was asked about the guy he hates going against the most in scrimmages.

“I would say Deyton,” Chol said. “He’s a very dynamic guard — it’s kind of hard. He’s just (so) quick, fast, makes great decisions.”