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The University of New Mexico women's basketball team could boast six freshmen again next season.

The Lobos have signed five rookies for next season, but coach Don Flanagan said he may use a scholarship vacated by junior-to-be Morgan Saso immediately.

NCAA rules prevent Flanagan from speaking about recruits, but the coach did say he is eyeing one high school player who has the potential to make an immediate impact on the program.

"We could use help right away, but right now I only see one person doing that for us," Flanagan said.

The Lobos could use the scholarship immediately or have three available for the 2008 recruiting class, which will also be tasked with replacing seniors-to-be Dionne Marsh and Brandi Kimble.

Morgan Saso, a center who would have been a junior next season and has seen little playing time during her career, is leaving the program.

She was released from her scholarship and is transferring to the California State University-Bakersfield, a school in her hometown.

Saso, who is 6-foot-3, averaged 0.6 points, 0.7 rebounds and 2.6 minutes in 12 games last season. She redshirted her freshman year with the hope of adapting to the speed of the college game, but she struggled to make the strides that would earn her more playing time.

She was stuck behind junior center Angela Hartill and sophomore Valerie Kast.

Flanagan said Saso's departure was a mutual decision. She sought more playing time, and he admitted there was little chance her minutes would improve next year.

"This has been coming for awhile, but it wasn't an easy decision because Morgan is such a dedicated person who wanted to stick with the program," Flanagan said. "We talked about it at the end of last season, but she wanted to stick it out another year. Then this year we were in the same situation and made some phone calls to help her look for other schools.

"She was a little bit homesick, so it was nice to find her a spot back home in Bakersfield."

Camp update: The Lobos have had slightly more than 30 teams sign up for the summer team camp. Last season UNM drew about 50 teams.

Flanagan said the position camp, which runs June 24-26, features top high school talent and concludes with a scrimmage open to the public, and should draw numerous UNM recruits again this summer.

"I know a lot of fans look forward to the scrimmage at the end of the position camp, and I think it will be exciting to watch again this year," he said.

To sign up for the team events or learn more about the Lobos' five summer camps, call Shane Flanagan at 925-5770.