Meet the Lobos' new PG1: Deyton Albury on his journey from Bahamas to the Pit

If this new era of Lobo basketball finds the success its fans hope, there’s a good chance Deyton Albury will be a big reason why.

For all the talk of new head coach Eric Olen’s “positionless” offensive relying on skilled shooters at every spot, the reality is that’s only mostly true.

There still needs to be a head of the snake — a point guard that can attack, create the rim pressure that Olen so often talks about setting up the rest of the offense.

Albury is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior transfer who is expected to be PG1 for the Lobos.

The native of Bahamas sat down with the Journal’s Geoff Grammer last week for episode 117 of the Talking Grammer podcast — an in-depth conversation about his journey to the Pit, his basketball background, his high hopes for teammates, Bahamian food and more.

He was the first player in the Olen era to sit down for one of the Journal’s podcasts — a series the Journal hopes to continue throughout the season.

The podcast can be watched in is entirety at ABQJournalcast.com, under “podcasts” on the Journal’s YouTube page or heard wherever you download podcasts.

Here are excerpts form the 47-minute episode:

An attacking guard

Around the Mountain West last season, there were few as good at creating rim pressure as Albury, then a point guard in a Utah State offense that isn’t tailor-made for his strengths in the same way UNM’s new offense is. That was a big factor in Albury’s decision to come to Albuquerque.

As Albury explains, his style is not unlike a lot of players from the Bahamas — centered around attacking the rim.

His 5.1 fouls drawn per 40 minutes last season ranked sixth in MWC games and his 6.5 fouls drawn per 40 minutes two years ago at Queens ranked 33rd nationally.

“That’s been my play style my whole life,” Albury said. “Just being aggressive, driving to the rim with no fear, creating contact, finishing through contact. I wouldn’t say I’m just driving the paint looking for fouls. I think it’s either foul me or I score. But, shoot, I take a lot of pride in driving to the rim because that’s my game.”

That style of play also sucks in defenders, leaving teammates open at the 3-point line.

Bold prediction 1

Asked if he had any thoughts on a player who might really surprise fans this year, Albury fired back with a request.

“Can I have two?”

Of course.

Then Albury, who has trained with NBA players and the Bahamas National Team, gassed up 6-8 USC transfer Kevin Patton Jr. and 6-4 freshman guard Jake Hall.

“The first one is Kevin Patton Jr. getting drafted (in the NBA, but not necessarily after this season).

“The reason why — the league, if you see the trend, it’s all a lot of 6-7, long, lanky guys that are very athletic. Kev has the frame and he has the work ethic to do so. I told him (last week) in practice, I’m like, ‘Bro, Kev, if you just focus in on guarding the ball, creating havoc on defense ... trying to get steals and just knocking down his shot. I’m like, bro, you could get drafted. You got the body, you got got the frame, and I feel like you definitely have the athleticism to do so.”

Bold prediction 2

As for what Albury sees for Hall, the guard who was the first commit to Olen once the new head coach took the job at UNM after having previously committed to play for the coach at UC San Diego, he said:

“Jake Hall being Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West.”

Albury didn’t elaborate on why, but made clear he’s confident in the pick.

“I’m gonna just let time tell, but Jake Hall for Freshman of the Year.”

Not so sweet music?

The Journal talked with Mike Albury, Deyton’s younger brother, who is in the United States visiting for a month and asked him what’s one thing nobody knows about his brother.

Mike: “He used to play the trumpet when he was like 9.”

Journal: “Was he any good?”

Mike: “No!”

Deyton got a chance to defend himself, though it turns out the scouting report was pretty accurate.

Journal: “So, were you any good at it?”

Deyton: “No!”

Big brother then offered a admission — he loves music, but he can’t play instruments like his younger brother.

Deyton: “Music has never — I’m not even really a good dancer, for real. I try to dance. Not a good singer at all. Love music. Love rap music, dance, I love reggae, but just can’t.”

As for his younger brother: “My brother is — I don’t know what it is, but he stole all the talents for some reason. He’s a better dancer, better singer, like everything. He would learn how to fix a car engine quick. He just picks up on stuff, you know what I mean? And I feel like that’s a talent, something I’ve never had.”

Diego Pavia text

Albury is a senior and expects this to be his last season of eligibility. But he also thought that a year ago before NCAA rules changed, allowing athletes who started at a junior college like he did to get a year of eligibility back.

That rule change came thanks to a legal challenge in court by Albuquerque’s Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt and former New Mexico State quarterback who started his career at New Mexico Junior College.

Thanks to Pavia, Albury is playing now.

“Last year, which was crazy, I already had my mind made up,” Albury said. “Like, ‘Yo Deyton, this is the (last) season. Do or die.’ (Then) two months into the preseason, we got the notification that all JuCo students had been granted another year due to this dude that sued the NCAA.

“I didn’t know he’s from New Mexico. Actually, I texted him and thanked him because, you know, it changed my life.”