Milner, the power forward out of Auckland, New Zealand is a two-star recruit who joins the Lobos after spending time at Rosmini College, a boys catholic secondary school in New Zealand. Milner contributed to a national championship victory in 2011. Notably, during his senior season he had a breakout game in which he totaled 49 points and 15 rebounds.
Smith Milner was also member of New Zealand's U 20 and U 18 teams. He plans to try out for the national team in June, hoping to represent his country in the 2014 FIBA World Championships in Spain.
The Lobos other spring signees include forward Jordan Goodman from Harcum College in Pennslyvania, and center J.J. N'ganga from Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Prep standouts Joe Furstinger, a forward from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and Xavier Adams, a guard from Flower Mound, Texas.
It's not a big name recruiting class by any means but considering both Joe Furstinger and Xavier Adams were well regarded coming out of high school in their respective states, it's very possible that these two can continue to develop and provide solid contributions for New Mexico next season.
You don't always know who will step up for a program. A lot of times what you see on paper turns out to be different than the outcome. Both positive and negative. Although this isn't what you'd consider a high profile group of incoming freshmen, sometimes a player that no one values highly comes out of no where to make an impact for a team. Sometimes a player like Tohi Smith Milner emerges.