Today marked the first day of the late signing period and the UTEP men's basketball team added some much needed scoring by signing Josh McSwiggan to a national letter of intent. The 6-7 guard/forward becomes the first British basketball player to ever sign with the Miners, and will join the team as a freshman for the 2015-16 basketball season. McSwiggan is a member of the Great Britain National Team and will play for his home country this summer before he arrives in El Paso for the fall semester. The newest UTEP basketball player joined 600 ESPN El Paso's Sportstalk to talk about his decision to come to the United States and sign with the Miners.

UTEP Athletics/Paul Davies Photography.
UTEP Athletics/Paul Davies Photography.
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McSwiggan is currently playing for Charnwood College in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He is averaging 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, two assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks in the EABL (Elite Academy Basketball League). He is shooting 55 percent from the field and 79 percent from the line. On weekends, McSwiggan is a member of the Loughborough Student Riders club team that competes in Basketball England National League Division 2. He is averaging 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals for his club team with a .450 field goal percentage and .800 free throw percentage.

UTEP Athletics.
UTEP Athletics.
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Miners head coach Tim Floyd is looking forward to the opportunity to coach McSwiggan beginning next season. “We are excited to sign Josh today,” UTEP Coach Tim Floyd said in a UTEP release about the signing. “He brings tremendous athleticism and skill to our program. He can play both wing positions at 6-7. He has great length and the ability to shoot from deep range. He has gotten some outstanding experience playing in England. He is an exceptional student-athlete who will represent UTEP well.”

McSwiggan joins Paul Thomas, Christine Romine, and Lee Moore, who signed LOIs last fall. The late signing period will extend through May 20th. UTEP has one more scholarship to fill, and sources tell 600 ESPN El Paso that the team would like to add one more point guard to next season's roster.

 

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