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L.J. Figueroa: Four-star college basketball recruit going JUCO, not New Mexico State

By Taylor Sturm

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; New Mexico State Aggies mascot reacts during the second half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; New Mexico State Aggies mascot reacts during the second half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Mexico State will be one four-star recruit short heading into 2017-18. As L.J. Figueroa announced his plans to go to junior college.

After initially committing to the New Mexico State Aggies, 6’5, 295-pound small forward L.J. Figueroa has decided to go to junior college instead.

From Tampa, Florida, Figueroa was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals, a four-star recruit by ESPN, and as a four-star recruit by 247Sports as well. He is an extremely talented player who still has a bright future in college basketball, even if it is not with the Aggies.

This will be a disappointing loss for New Mexico State, as they are looking towards the future with a new coach in Chris Jans.

Last season, the Aggies went 28-6 overall, winning the WAC Tournament and securing the automatic qualifier berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Despite being a popular upset pick, NMSU fell short to the No. 3 seeded Baylor Bears. Their then-Head Coach Paul Weir took a job with the New Mexico Lobos, leaving

However, the Aggies, even without Figueroa, look to be in fine shape for the future. The WAC is up for grabs, and this team has the talent to make another run in 2017-18.

Next: Best available transfers for 2017-18

Figueroa, on the other hand, will likely be one of the top JUCO transfers on the market in a year or so. Keep an eye on this talented player moving forward, because he could be an impact player down the road.