Mingo officially a Warhawk

MONROE, La. --- The ULM men's basketball team and head coach Orlando Early announced the signing of former West Monroe-star Hugh Mingo to a national letter of intent for the 2009-10 season on Thursday morning.

Seeing the value and talent of basketball athletes in north Louisiana, ULM has made a commitment under Early to add area prep stars to the roster. Eight players on the current roster hail from Louisiana with three playing at least one year for a Monroe-area high school.

Mingo originally committed with the Warhawks out of high school before opting to take the junior college route. He was part of a recruiting class that included current Warhawks and area prep stars Rudy Turner (Peabody HS-Alexandria, La.) and Mitchell Hampton (Ouachita HS-Monroe, La.).

"Hugh is a kid that we loved out of high school. When we first got here he was a target for us," Early said. "We have always focused on the state of Louisiana and our surrounding area. He is a West Monroe kid that can really play. Anytime you can get local guys on your roster you are excited to have them."

Mingo, an athletic 6-3 guard, will join the Warhawks after his sophomore season at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. As a freshman with the Texans, Mingo averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in helping lead his team to a 30-5 record and a national championship.

Early in his sophomore campaign, Mingo is averaging 15.3 points and two steals per game while hitting on 62.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

"Hugh is an all around player," Early said. "The coaches at West Monroe did a great job with him, but he has really matured and developed as a player a lot since he has been at South Plains College. He is a great defender. He is quick and athletic and does a great job coming off screens and shooting the ball. He is going to be an all around good player for us."

At West Monroe High School, Mingo averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists per game for a 29-7 squad. He was a four-year starter and a three-time all-district selection.

The Warhawks open the 2008-09 regular season on Friday when they host Morehead State at Fant-Ewing Coliseum at 7 p.m. Season tickets are still available by contacting the ULM ticket office at 342-3ULM.