Lobo hoops notebook: New Lobos getting as much out of coaching camp as the kids; future Lobo makes national team

A kids basketball camp isn't about winning and losing.

But you probably wouldn't have been able to tell watching the emotions and reactions during the always-popular game of knockout taking place Tuesday in the Rudy Davalos Practice Center.

And not really even by the kids taking part in the first-ever Eric Olen Basketball Camp at UNM. No, the live-with-every-shot, die-with-every-shot reactions seemed to belong to the new Lobo players every bit as much as the couple hundred elementary and middle school aged kids taking part.

"So far, it's amazing," said Milos Vicentic, a 6-foot-7 forward who transferred from UC San Diego, following Olen to UNM this offseason. "... I hope kids are having a lot of fun right now. I know we are."

As is the case every summer for every program, such kids camps do give the players of the local college team a chance to put their faces in front of young fans and their parents.

"Camp is always a fun week for our coaches and players," Olen said. "It’s a great opportunity to meet some of the young Lobo fans and connect with the community."

That's even more the case for these UNM Lobos, a team with an entirely new roster and coaching staff. For them, there seems to be as much a benefit for the big kids "coaching" the camp, as for the young kids taking part in it.

"My opinion on the team building/bonding is about shared experiences," Olen said. "We want to create those as much as possible in a variety of ways."

If not for their 6-8 and 6-4 frames, brothers Kevin and Kallai Patton could have passed for young campers themselves on Tuesday, with as much fun as they were having.

"I think the kids' favorite so far is definitely Kevin and Kallai," Vicentic said, before adding, "And J.T. (Rock) is there, too."

Of course Rock is a 7-foot-1 transfer from Iowa State who might as well been a friendly giant to the campers.

What's clear, and not just to those getting small glimpses of the team, but to a player like Vicentic — who has taken part in a full season of Olen's system before — things are off to a very good start for the new-look Lobos; both on the court and off.

"I think the chemistry is very important (in this system)," Vicentic said. "I've been so far on two teams (in college) that won the championships and, in both teams, our chemistry was amazing. We were there for each other, helping, pushing, and I think that's the base for success. So right now, we're in a place to build that, and I think that's gonna just come with time."

TOP GOLF: Yes, there's been plenty of basketball going on, too. But as part of that team bonding, the entire Lobos coaching staff and roster went to play Top Golf last week.

Some players were, well, better than others.

The unanimous choice for best player on the team? Freshman Jake Hall, the 6-4 shooting guard from Carlsbad, California.

But the old ball coach, 44-year-old Olen (OK, so he's not really "old") lived and worked a stones throw away from Torrey Pines in San Diego for a couple decades and clearly picked up some good habits along the way.

"Coach was pretty good," Vicentic said. "He won a couple rounds, but then we caught him. And Jake is really good."

So, could Olen hold his own with Hall over 18 holes?

"No way. He'd get me," Olen said. "I can do the Top Golf stuff pretty (well) and have my moments, but over 18 holes, I think he'd get me."

Playing for his country

Incoming freshman Timéo Pons, a 6-8 guard from France, will still be overseas a few more weeks.

Monday, it was announced that he made the France National U19 team and will participate in the upcoming FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland, Saturday through July 6.

Shortly after that, he can come to the United States and start his crash course on team bonding and learning to be a Lobo.

For now, he and his France team are starting the U19 World Cup in about as tough a draw as possible in the group stage. France is in "Group D", which includes Team USA, Australia and Cameroon.

In group play, Pons plays Cameroon on Saturday, Team USA on Sunday and Australia on Tuesday (July 1). Tournament play will follow.

Old friend update...

Former Lobo K.J. Jenkins, who was at UNM for the 2022 and 2023 seasons before wrapping up his college career at UNC-Wilmington, has signed his second professional contract this week with Boras Basket in the Swedish Basketligan.

Jenkins' first professional season was played in Austria.

His new team just lost in the Basketligan championship series to the Norkkoping Dolphins, a team that includes Jenkins former Lobos teammate and Sweden native, Sebastian Forsling.