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New Mexico Basketball: Paul Weir snags talented transfer in Akron’s Antino Jackson

By Taylor Sturm

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; New Mexico State Aggies head coach Paul Weir reacts during the second half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; New Mexico State Aggies head coach Paul Weir reacts during the second half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Mexico Lobos are turning over a new leaf with the arrival of a new head coach in Paul Weir from the New Mexico State Aggies.

After a disappointing season that saw UNM finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference with an overall 17-14 record, the team looks set to make a quick turnaround heading into 2017-18 with a plethora of commitments.

Paul Weir was fantastic in his time at New Mexico State, so it should be expected that he gets this team back on track extremely soon. The process becomes a little bit easier, as Weir and his staff have added a fantastic grad transfer in former Akron Zips’ player Antino Jackson. This was first reported by Jon Rothstein via Twitter.

Jackson helped to lead the Zips to the top of the Eastern division of the MWC and a second-round finish in the NIT with 10.8 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game. A jack-of-all-trades guard, Jackson will add a much needed versatile facet to the new-look Lobos. This is just the type of veteran, proven player that a rebuilding team with a new head coach desperately needs in the first season.

Next: Early top 25 for 2017-18

While I do not believe New Mexico immediately makes the jump into the NCAA Tournament next season, it should not surprise anyone if this team scraps their way into the bubble discussion and finishes as a top seed in the NIT. Weir was a solid hire, and this team is on the right path.