Lowe ready to decide in near future

Chris Lowe, the 6-foot, 155-pound point guard from Mt. Vernon (N.Y.) High School, finished another solid year with the storied program from the Big Apple and now he's setting his sights on his college future. The floor general said he's trimmed his list down to three finalists and a decision is on the horizon.

Lowe ended his senior season a little earlier than he anticipated but a 20-4 record and a wealthy experience at Mt. Vernon will help him prepare for the next level, Lowe said.

The next level is beginning to take serious form. Lowe said his three finalists are Texas-El Paso, Maryland and Virginia Tech. The senior recently tripped to UTEP and visited the future Conference USA program.

"It was good. I liked the environment three. The players and coaches all got along. They are like best friends and brothers," Lowe said. "Coach (Doc) Sadler is doing a great job there. They have some key players coming back and they have a great recruiting class coming in with a guy like Stefan Jackson coming in. I think they are really turning it around."

The Miners aren't alone. Two ACC programs have come calling. Maryland and Virginia Tech have recently jumped into the picture.

"(Maryland) has been calling over the last two to three weeks. They wanted to talk to me and let me know that they are interested because they are waiting to see what John Gilchrist does, if he stays or leaves," Lowe said.

"I'm waiting under their season ends (to see if he'll visit. You can't beat them. I'm going to really consider them."

The Hokies are also trying to get a visit from Lowe.

"They just finished up and we are trying to work some things out," Lowe said.

With three finalists and a shrinking calendar, Lowe said he's ready to decide.

"In two weeks I'll have a decision," he said. "I'd have to say UTEP has the edge right now."