NMPreps.com - A.A.U New Mexico: Introducing the NM Force

September 24, 2012

Joshua J. Grine
NMPreps.com Basketball Analyst

A.A.U basketball continues to grow in the state of New Mexico with several teams doing very well on the National scene. Most teams come and go through the years but since 1992 the NM Force based in Albuquerque, New Mexico has continued promoting player.

The NM Force are coached and managed by Ross Romero a New Mexico native himself. He continues to work hard to promote the players in New Mexico working countless hours to help the youth in New Mexico.

The NM Force basketball organization has produced 51 division players, 141 college scholarships and a handful of professional athletes. The Force have also seen former coaches take jobs at the next level (Or former payers like myself coach high school basketball and now work in basketball for NMPreps.com- haha)

The following is a statement from NM Force head coach/president Ross Romero:

The NM Force 17u and 16u teams had a great July season. Several players are drawing interest and/or received offers to date.

The 17u team did very well in two July events: Duncanville, TX GASO and the Las Vegas Adidas Super 64. They went 2-2 in both events. Both losses in Duncanville were by an average of 3 points. In Las Vegas, the team nearly finished pool play with a 3-0 finish, losing its last pool play game by 1 point after being up by two points with 40 seconds left before turning the ball over in the final seconds and allowing the opposing team to score. The two losses came by an average of only 4 points. Ultimately a very good team from France knocked them out of the tournament.

6'4", G, 2013, Dane Pannell (Hobbs HS, NM) is receiving interest from several Division 1 programs: Arizona St., CSU Fullerton, UC Riverside, Cal Poly, Hofstra, TX Pan Am, Abilene Christian University, Southern University, University of North Texas, Army, Prairie View A&M, and Northwestern St. He holds an offer from ENMU.

6'7", F, 2013, Ross Buchman (Cibola HS, NM) and 6'4", G, 2013, Taylor Barney (Cibola HS, NM) are receiving interest from D2 and Juco's.

The 16u team was led by 6'8", SF, 2015, Alex Olesinski (Roswell HS, NM), 6'6", G, 2014, Jordan Jones (Sandia HS, NM), 6'4", G, 2014, Eric Lee Jr., (Volcano Vista HS, NM), 6'1", G, 2014, Cesar Nava Jr., (Roswell HS, NM), and 6'1", PG, 2015, Juwan Brooks (Rio Grande HS, NM). They played up in the 17u division for the Duncanville, TX GASO and against older, more experienced players they finished a respectable 2-2. Both losses by an average of only 3 points. In Las Vegas, NV at the Adidas Super 64 the team finished in the Sweet 16 going 3-2, beating a very tough and big Celtics team from Houston, TX in pool play. A very good, experienced team from France knocked them out in the final game falling short of the Elite 8.

Several players from the 16u team are drawing Division 1 interest:

6'8", SF, 2015, Alex Olesinski (Roswell HS, NM) - interest from Indiana, Arizona, Arizona St., USC, Washington, Washington St., Utah, Colorado, Virginia, Kansas, Marquette, NMSU among others.

6'6", G, 2014, Jordan Jones (Sandia HS, NM) - interest from Arizona St., Colorado, Sam Houston St., NMSU, Texas A&M CC, and Wright St. University.

6'1", PG, 2015, Juwan Brooks (Rio Grande HS, NM) - interest from Wright St. University.

To learn more about NM Force and their accomplishments or to make a donation, visit them atwww.nmforce.com

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