UTEP has granted Alex Galindo a release from the national letter of intent he signed with the Miners in November.

The release frees up Galindo, a 6-6, 205-pound swingman from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to pursue other options for continuing his basketball career.

"Alex has questioned his commitment to UTEP over the last year," said Miner head coach Doc Sadler. "I had a great visit with him last week. However, I told him that our program and current players deserved a 100 percent commitment, which we mutually agreed last night that he couldn't provide. We wish him well. We have a great team coming back and will look to add more pieces to the puzzle in the coming weeks."

"It is our normal policy not to give releases to student-athletes who have signed a national letter of intent with UTEP," said Miner Director of Athletics Bob Stull. "We have made an exception in this instance. This will allow us to move forward and pursue other alternatives."

UTEP returns its top four scorers for the 2004-05 season. The Miners welcome back five of their top seven players. Overall UTEP returns 75 percent of its scoring, 76 percent of its assists and 73 percent of its rebounds from a 24-8 team which won the Western Athletic Conference title and played in the NCAA Tournament.

In related news Wednesday, Texas A&M announced the hiring of former Miner assistant coach Alvin Brooks. A Houston native, Brooks will join head coach Billy Gillispie on the Aggie staff.