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2016 New Mexico basketball recruiting: Lobos add four-star power forward Mitch Lightfoot

Mitch Lightfoot, a 6' 9" power forward, has committed to play for the Lobos in 2016.

By rcarrion
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

In order for the New Mexico Lobos to take the next step as a program, head coach Craig Neal must start winning recruiting battles against the bigger schools in the west. Today he found out that he beat out Arizona State, UNLV, Creighton, and Utah for four-star power forward Mitch Lightfoot, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Lightfoot, a 6' 9" forward from Tucson’s Ironwood Ridge High School, averaged 15.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.9 blocks as a sophomore. Lightfoot was in Albuquerque this weekend for an unofficial recruiting visit. Lightfoot wanted to make sure he got the green light from his family during the visit.

"I love Coach Neal and all the players — all great players. We got my grandparents out here for this trip and my parents and showed them around a little. This was more of a family thing on this trip. We do things as a family and this trip convinced everyone so I committed," Lightfoot told The Albuquerque Journal's Geoff Grammer.

Lightfoot made the announcement via his twitter account on Sunday. Lightfoot is Neal's first verbal commit of 2016 and he will join 2015 recruit Duane Kuiper, his Arizona Power Club teammate.

"I really think I can help the Lobos win a lot of games and with the players Coach Neal is bringing in, I think we can be a special team," he said to Grammer.

Check out these highlights of Lightwood:

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