A summer of guesswork, for fans, ended with the announcement from UTEP officials that four players will be leaving the basketball program.

Malik Alvin, Maurice Thomas, Dale Vanwright, and Franklin Jones will transfer from UTEP to another college according to head basketball coach Tony Barbee.

"There will be four student-athletes not returning from this past season's roster -- Malik Alvin, Franklin Jones, Maurice Thomas and Dale Vanwright," Barbee said. "I want all my players to share my vision of what a student-athlete should be -- academically, athletically and socially. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors."

Alvin started in 20 out of the 30 games the Miners competed in last season. In that span he averaged 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 24.4 minutes of play. As a freshman he set UTEP records in assists (137) and steals (45). He would have been a sophomore.

Thomas averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds and shot 54 percent from the field in 20.8 minutes of play. The Philadelphia, PA., native was the most consistent post player. The closet teammate in terms of points was Jeremy Sampson with 4.3 points. The 6'8", 210 pound forward started in 20 of 30 games in 2006, after suffering an ankle injury.

The true freshman, Vanwright, started in 14 out of 21 games for UTEP. The 6'6", 205 pound forward missed nine games due to a heel injury and one due to illness. The Houston, Texas native averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.3 minutes of play.

Before coming to UTEP, Jones averaged 10 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks in his final year at Niagara Falls High School. The 7'0", 290 pounder shot 55 percent from the perimeter and 80 percent from the free throw line. He was named the Niagara Falls High School's Defensive Player of the Year at the conclusion of his senior season. He was redshirted in 2006 and did not have any regular season playing time. He will have four years of eligibility.

The departures were expected after UTEP Coach Tony Barbee signed six recruits (Gabriel McCulley, Claude Britton, Manuel Cass, Wayne Portalatin, Julyan Stone, and Randy Culpepper) out of high school for the upcoming season.

The additions of Claude Britton, Manuel Cass and Wayne Portalatin will help eliminate the lack of size in the front court. Only three players (Thomas, Ramalho, and Sampson) were taller than 6'6". This made it impossible for the Miners to have an inside presence, but with Britton (6'11"), Cass (6'7") and Portalatin (6'10") those problems will go away.

After losing 31 percent of their scoring (Alvin, Thomas and Vanwright) the Miners needed an offensive spark from the newcomers. Coach Barbee decided to add much needed depth and offensive by signing Culpepper, Stone and McCulley. All three were known for their scoring and well rounded games.

Stone averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals per game last year. The 6'6", 170 pounder will give team's match-up problems especially if he is made the point guard.

The 6'6", 210 pound McCulley averaged 14 points in his senior season, but more importantly he grabbed nine rebounds while collecting two blocks and a steal per game. His athletic mold is what Barbee needs in his motion offense/pressure defense.

Randy Culpepper was recruited for his scoring ability. The Memphis, Tenn. native averaged over 30 points, five assists and four steals per game.

The five newcomers will join a team of eight returnees from the 2006 season that include Stefon Jackson, Marvin Kilgore, Corey Speight, Pearson Smith, Darren Clarke, Victor Ramalho, and Jeremy Sampson. (I consider Tavaris Watts a returnee although he sat out last season, due to NCAA transfer rules).

Overall, the team will have to endure another year of growing pains, but in the wide open Conference USA anything can happen. With the team Barbee has put together, which is reminiscent to Memphis, fans should be clamoring for seats. But the regular season is still far away, and other changes may still occur.