Athletic Report
January 6, 2000

FORMER NMSU PLAYER CHRIS GONZALES JOINS GREYHOUNDS
PORTALES, NM — Chis Gonzales, who played at New Mexico State University during the 1996-97 basketball season, has joined the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds. Gonzales, a 5’9”, 160-pound point guard, officially transferred to ENMU from the Technical and Vocational Institute (TVI) in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He is expected to see playing time at the point guard and shooting guard positions when ENMU takes on Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas on Saturday (Jan. 8) at 7:00 p.m. MST. Gonzales, who has not played collegiate basketball since 1996-97, is immediately eligible through the 2-year non-participation rule, which waives the one-year residency requirement for transfers to NCAA Division II member institutions.

Eastern competes in Division II and is a member of the Lone Star Conference. ENMU is currently 3-9 on the season, including 0-2 in the LSC South.

Gonzales will be a junior for the Greyhounds this year, and will have a full season of eligibility remaining when the current season ends. Gonzales attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, where he played basketball for three seasons. During two seasons at La Cueva, he was a teammate of current ENMU basketball player Nelson Smith.

Smith, also a standout defensive tackle on the Greyhound football team, told Gonzales he would be a great addition to the ENMU basketball squad. Smith arranged for Gonzales to talk with ENMU Head Coach Terry Tyler. As a result of that meeting, Gonzales is now returning to college basketball.

While attending TVI, Gonzales was an assistant coach for the freshman team at La Cueva in 1998-99, and was a varsity assistant coach at La Cueva this season.

Gonzales practiced with the Greyhounds for the first time this afternoon (Jan. 6). He will have only two days of practice before Eastern’s game at Abilene Christian. “It was kind of hard,” Gonzales said of his first ENMU practice. “It’s been 2 1/2 years since I was part of a team. Once I get my legs back and get into shape, I think everything will fall into place.”

Gonzales first played college basketball at Northland Pioneer College in 1995-96. He finished third in his junior college conference in 3-point field goal percentage, while helping Northland Pioneer earn a 20-10 record. He then played at NMSU in 1996-97, and received the most minutes of playing time for a walk-on player during Neil McCarthy’s tenure as head coach. The Aggies finished the season with a 19-8 record.

As a high school student, Gonzales played his freshman season at St. Pius X in Albuquerque (1991-92), earning All-District recognition. He helped La Cueva finish 3rd in the State Tournament as a sophomore, then combined with Smith to lead La Cueva to a State Championship as a junior in 1993-94. La Cueva lost in the State quarterfinals his senior season.

Gonzales led the State of New Mexico in assists as a junior and a senior. He was Honorable Mention All-State as a junior and was Second Team All-State as a senior. He earned All-City honors both years, and was an All-District selection his senior season.