Dec. 3, 2004
By Rick Bustos, New Mexico Media Relations Student Assistant
Alfred Neale was in the seventh grade the first time he dunked a ball. He had not played any organized basketball, but thought maybe since he could already dunk it, he should give it a try.
“Dunking the basketball is what inspired me to play basketball,” said Neale. “I really wasn’t into basketball too much, but one day just playing around with some friends I just dunked it on a fast break.”
The next year Neale played on his school team and hasn’t stopped since. He later went on to jump an Oklahoma prep high-jump record of 7’2″ and was also a nominee for McDonald’s High School All-America his senior year.
Now a member of the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team, Neale is still displaying his tremendous leaping ability, with a vertical leap of over 40″. And yes, he can still throw the ball down. His dazzling array of dunks, which The Pit fans are quickly getting accustomed to, range from alley-oops to baseline jams to thunderous putbacks.
Neale was one of only three Lobos to play in all 28 games last season, starting 25 and averaging almost nine points per game and five rebounds. A very athletic player with a nice touch from outside, he made 39 three pointers in 2003-04, ranking 10th in the Mountain West Conference.
Neale hopes to continue his basketball career after college, but also has other dreams of what he might want to do with his life. When asked what he would do with his life if it were impossible to fail, he replied, “More than likely I’d be an NBA player. Also, if I had no way of failing, I’d be one of the greatest piano players ever to live.”
That statement is a small window into a whole new world that defines Alfred – his music. A versatile musician, Neale can play the bass, guitar, drums and saxophone, but says that the keyboard is his favorite.
“The reason why the keyboard is my most favorite instrument is because I can really get into it, and I feel that I get more out of it than any other instrument I play,” said Neale. “Plus I feel like I am more extreme when I’m playing the keyboard. It is also one of the instruments I have played the longest.”
Besides being an excellent musician, Neale enjoys singing, something his mom inspired him to do. He also plays in a gospel music band with his family.
Neale grew up with two brothers and five sisters, so family is very important to him. Besides his mom inspiring him to sing, she also inspired him to do a lot of other good things as well.
“She set really good examples growing up and showed me the right way to go,” Neale said. “She would constantly get on me to do well in life. She would always tell me who to be like or who should be my role model, but what I didn’t know was that she was my role model by telling me to watch them. Having a person who impacted my life like that is most definitely the biggest role model in my life.”
He also wears a tattoo on his arm, in memory of his mother. Neale is now part of a different family, a family of Lobos. He likes the style of the coaches at UNM and said the players have made him feel right at home ever since he arrived in Albuquerque. Now in his senior season, he is ready to do whatever is necessary to help the team win and be successful. His personal goal is to grab more rebounds this season, saying it is something the team can improve on.
Overall, Neale is very excited about this year, and feels the team has a lot of potential.
“I think we have a really good chance of doing something with this team,” he said. “We have a lot of leaders, a lot of guys that have stepped up and taken that role, which is something we did not have last year.”
That group of leaders includes Neale himself. If the high-soaring leaper can elevate his game even higher this season, look for the Lobos to move up the Mountain West standings and into the national spotlight.