New Mexico Lobos add Iona center Nelly Junior Joseph via transfer portal

Apr. 11—The Lobos will be welcoming a familiar face back to the Pit this season.

And Nelly Junior Joseph will be playing for a familiar name.

The 6-foot-10, back-to-back First Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection who played the past three seasons at Iona under Rick Pitino, announced on Wednesday via social media that he will transfer from the New York school to New Mexico to play for Richard Pitino and the UNM Lobos.

?? committed let's work Lobos Nation pic.twitter.com/fmeotzwuQH

— Nelly Junior Joseph (@thisisnelly23) April 11, 2023

"I have been fortunate to have been able to watch Nelly over the last three years and have loved seeing his growth," UNM coach Richard Pitino said. "Obviously he is a winner, who has been well-coached and will provide an immediate impact to our basketball program. He is a tough and physical veteran who will be terrific addition to our team as we continue to move our program forward."

From Benin, Nigeria, Junior Joseph averaged 14.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots this past season for Iona, which went 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where it lost in the first round to eventual tournament champion Connecticut. In league play, he averaged 6.6 fouls drawn per 40 minutes, which led the MAAC, and over the course of the entire season he drew 5.7 fouls per 40 minutes, which would have placed him fifth in the Mountain West Conference.

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He started 82 of 89 games played at Iona and has two seasons of playing eligibility remaining, if he chooses to utilize his fifth season for playing in the 2021 COVID season.

Among the schools that had been recruiting Junior Joseph since he entered the transfer portal were fellow Mountain West school San Diego State and the SMU Mustangs, who the big man listed recently as being the other finalist for his services along with UNM.

In a statement released by UNM Athletics, Junior Joseph explained why he chose the Pit, and the UNM Lobos, as his future home.

"I wanted to be part of a program that has the potential for success in the long term," said Junior Joseph in the news release. "With Coach Pitino at the helm, I am confident he can build upon the foundation that has already been established. He is known for his attacking style of play and the ability to develop players in a short amount of time. He also has an excellent track record of recruiting top-tier talent, which will be key to building this roster.

"In addition to Coach Pitino's coaching pedigree, I chose New Mexico because of its commitment to academic success. I am confident that the players we will bring in will have the opportunity to balance their athletic and academic pursuits and be successful in both areas. The university also has a strong commitment to the community and will be able to provide unique opportunities for players to serve and give back."

Prior to plying in college, Junior Joseph played in the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal.

Junior Joseph scored 21 points and had six rebounds and three steals in his team's 82-74 loss on Dec. 18 at the Pit to New Mexico.

Rick Pitino recently left Iona to accept the head coaching position at St. John's, which led to Junior Joseph and several of his Iona teammates hitting the transfer portal in recent weeks.

A look at the roster

The Lobos now have four scholarships left to fill for the coming season:

Scholarship players (listed alphabetically)

1. G Braden Appelhans, 6-7

2. PG Donovan Dent, 6-2

3. C Sebastian Forsling, 7-0

4. PG Jaelen House, 6-0

5. F/C Nelly Junior Joseph, 6-9 (transfer)

6. G Jamal Mashburn, Jr., 6-2

7. F Jadyn Toppin, 6-8 (high school)

8. G Tru Washington, 6-3 (high school)

9. G/F Quinton Webb, 6-6

10. TBD

11. TBD

12. TBD

13. TBD

—

Walk-ons

1. F Mac Manzanares, 6-5

2. PG Shane Douma-Sanchez, 6-1

Look ahead...

While Toppin, the 6-8 power forward with a 7-foot-1 wing span from Faith Family Academy in Oak Cliff, Texas, already signed his National Letter of Intent in November during college basketball's "early signing period," the Lobos' other prep recruit, 6-3 guard Tru Washington from Chandler, Arizona's AZ Compass Prep School, is expected to sign this week when the "regular signing period" opens on Wednesday.

Washington committed to UNM on Feb. 21, but it was in between periods the NCAA allows players to officially sign scholarship papers.