College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 26-11; 11-7, Fifth in the Mountain West Conference, lost in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Brian Dutcher (Eighth Year; 177-58 at San Diego State, with five NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

G Nick Boyd – 6’3″, 175 Senior

G Miles Byrd – 6’7″, 190 Sophomore

G Reese Waters – 6’6″, 207 Senior

F Pharoah Compton – 6’8″, 245 Freshman

F/C Jared Coleman-Jones – 6’10”, 235 Senior

Experienced Reserves

G Kimo Ferrari – 6’0″, 178 Senior

G Wayne McKinney III – 6’0″, 198 Senior

G BJ Davis – 6’2″, 175 Sophomore

F/C Miles Heide – 6’10”, 233 Sophomore

F/C DeMarshay Johnson, Jr – 6’10”, 222 Senior

Freshmen

G Taj DeGourville – 6’5″, 208

F/C Magoon Gwath – 7’0″, 205 (Redshirt)

C Thokbor ‘David’ Majak – 7’0″, 208

This year, San Diego State turns the page. The final on-court connections to the greatest run in Aztec history have gone, as virtually all of the veterans who played a part in the program’s thrilling run to the NCAA Tournament championship game have moved on. In the immediate aftermath of the team’s Sweet Sixteen finish to last season, head coach Brian Dutcher knew he was losing superstar big man Jaedon LeDee, as well as proven guard Darion Trammell, to graduation. What folks on The Mesa had not anticipated was losing stalwart point guard Lamar Butler, Jr, veteran wing Micah Parrish, and then promising forward Elijah Saunders to the transfer portal. 

Was it time to turn out the lights on San Diego State’s two-decade-long run as one of the West Coast’s best programs? 

As it turns out, rumors of the Aztec empire’s demise may have been a bit premature. So much so that, as has long been a possibility, something called the Pac-12 has risen from what was presumed to be ashes, and its first order of business was to add SDSU to the fold. 

This year’s squad will feature different names, but it was always going to be that way following a couple of seasons which saw rotations top-heavy with seniors and guys using their extra year of eligibility. The coach who brought them together returns, and Dutcher hasn’t just been sitting around basking in the Aztecs’ success. He and his staff hit the portal in kind, and though they haven’t lured obvious star power, that’s never been the foundation of SDSU’s consistency. By adding a handful of rising veterans to a couple of exciting freshmen, Dutcher & Co may well have assembled the right pieces of yet another team which will tick off the whole Mountain West Conference before they’re done.

There may not be another LeDee on this roster, but Dutcher is not without a leading man. In his first season after transferring in from Southern California, Reese Waters added the sort of polish to his game that the Aztecs have become famous for. Now a senior, he’s poised to step forward as the go-to scorer this team will need. Across his first 13 games on the Mesa, Waters was super-productive and super-efficient. He was scoring 14.3 points per game on 45.1% shooting from downtown, and looking like just the right fit as a Robin to LeDee’s Batman. Then, Waters injured his ankle against Fresno State, and nothing was quite right for the rest of the season. He averaged just seven points over SDSU’s final 24 contests, and though he played through the ankle problem, Waters saw his three-point percentage fall to 27.7% during that stretch. This fall, he’s hungry to prove himself as a star to be relied upon, and has learned how to best make that happen for the Aztecs.

“I think I’m doing a good job of settling down and letting the game come to me instead of going out and forcing it,” Waters told Jon Schaeffer for SDSU Athletics late this summer. With great size and fluid, repeatable form on his jumper, Waters looks the part of a top scorer. His shooting rates have wandered a bit over the years, though, and Dutcher would love to see Waters establish a new level of consistency in his final season of eligibility. If Waters can figure it all out, San Diego State won’t have to look far for its next go-to guy. 

This year won’t only be an opportunity for Waters to break out, because Miles Byrd has been biding his time behind a veteran cast and has all the skills to become a standout. The third-year sophomore may be spindly, but it’s a long and very active 6’7″-version of spindly, and Byrd has been working hard to gain weight and muscle since the moment he arrived on The Mesa. These days, he weighs in at closer to 190 than the 150ish he was at three years ago, and last season, Byrd began to show off his skillset. He can be very disruptive defensively and has a chance to become one of the country’s most dangerous perimeter shit blockers, and Byrd’s nimble feet and long reach are tantalizing tools for the Aztec defense.

The young wing does a variety of things at a high level already, and reports say his offense has really come along this summer. Byrd has a fluid jumper which becomes incredibly tough to bother as he rises up from the outside, and his handle has become tight and confident. He’s still getting stronger, but Byrd’s assertiveness driving in from the wing has always been an advantage, and as he becomes a consistent perimeter threat, Byrd will undoubtedly take advantage of hasty closeouts. A savvy passer, Byrd’s vision and floor game are advanced for his class, due in no small part to being guided over the years by his father, Calvin, who played for Villanova and has been an assistant coach for years following his own playing career. Dutcher has already envisioned utilizing him as a key facilitator, and Byrd could flourish with the ball in his hands more often.

To aid his returnees, Dutcher has landed some experienced guards who can help to run the offense. While at Florida Atlantic, Nick Boyd got a close-up view of the Aztecs: he was defending as the Final Four clock hit triple-zero’s and Butler sank the most famous buzzer-beater in SDSU history. Boyd knows a little something about hitting game-winners, too; he had knocked down a tough layup in the closing seconds against Memphis to spark FAU’s miraculous Final Four run just a couple of weeks before Butler’s Shining Moment. Boyd was also there to build Florida Atlantic up from a 13-win outfit in his freshman season to a 35-win behemoth after returning from a redshirt two years later. He started 51 games the past two seasons on a loaded Owls perimeter, and Boyd handed out 189 assists among just 82 turnovers in his three seasons at FAU. 

In addition to his fearless approach driving in among the trees, Boyd has proven himself to be a quality outside shooter. He knocked down 110 triples combined across the past two seasons, and owns a 37.8% career mark from distance. Dutcher’s teams have been so effective lately because they have tended to feature multiple guards who can create without forcing plays or giving away possessions. That will continue, and thus it won’t be squarely upon Boyd’s shoulders to come in and become the distributor everyone looks to. The Aztecs are hoping to get more of the steady playmaking which Boyd became known for as an Owl, and for him to continue taking smart shots when the situation dictates. As a standout defender, Boyd will fit well at the fore of Dutcher’s always-ferocious pack line-style bulwark. 

Joining Boyd will be a pair of local kids coming off of career seasons elsewhere. San Diego’s own Kimo Ferrari and Wayne McKinney III, who grew up across San Diego Bay in Coronado, CA, will bring their own skills to help run Dutcher’s offense. As a University of San Diego Torero last winter, McKinney enjoyed a genuine breakout. A starter since his freshman year, McKinney nearly doubled his scoring average while ranking top ten in the West Coast Conference in assists and steals – and leading the WCC in made free throws. He was named second-team all-conference, and following the Aztecs’ defections this spring, it seemed like just the right time for McKinney to cement a legacy in his home region. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

41.0% – Opponent FG Percentage (25th)

31.5% – Team 3FG Percentage (296th)

31.0% – Opponent 3FG Percentage (29th)

0.367 – Free Throw Attempts Per FG Attempt (78th)

72.9% – Defensive Rebounding Rate (183rd)

Though SDSU’s offense has rarely set the world on fire, Dutcher knows how to put his best creators into ball screens and let them do their thing. McKinney is exciting off the bounce and became the primary distributor for the Toreros last year. He’s not afraid of contact and makes tough shots around the rim – although not always at the cleanest rate. Across his first two seasons, McKinney had been a 60.4% shooter near the basket, but fell off to 49.0% in close last year, per Bart Torvik. With frontcourts like those at Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga in the WCC, McKinney is familiar with going up against big, tough dudes on his way through the lane, and if he can get his percentages up, McKinney should have no trouble transitioning to the Mountain West Conference. 

To simply say that Ferrari averaged 6.7 points and scored in double figures six times last winter at Brown would be to skip over a key point. Ferrari also gave the Ivy League a glimpse of his ultimate potential: on March 2nd, against Dartmouth, Ferrari exploded for 39 points on 10/12 shooting from the land of trey. He may be walking on this year at SDSU, but some All-American players go their whole careers without such a performance as Ferrari has on his résumé. Dutcher isn’t counting on many 30-pieces from his new playmaker, but the Aztecs’ coach is a fan of Ferrari’s smart, composed style of play. 

Freshman wing Taj DeGourville may also have his say as a rookie. After turning down Iowa, Oklahoma, and a fistful of high-end mid-majors, DeGourville is a strongly-built youngster who can elevate or play more of an old-man game when isolating smaller defenders around the paint. His jumper is on the rise, and once DeGourville is steadily draining triples, his whole repertoire should come into focus. With his advanced approach and stout frame, DeGourville looks like the type of young perimeter player who could pop off for some big games early, and Dutcher’s staff would really appreciate that type of addition. Helping his cause, DeGourville is responsible defensively and won’t back down from physical, older players. If he can show consistency at both ends and the scoring flair which has caught the attention of scouts, DeGourville might be in line for a quick share of the minutes. 

Up front, there have been significant changes. LeDee was one of the best frontcourt players in America last season, while Saunders had been viewed as a future centerpiece since he first signed on to play for Dutcher. Instead, the Aztecs will feature another newcomer in former Middle Tennessee State post Jared Coleman-Jones. After three years as a solid backup, ‘JCJ’ broke out for the Blue Raiders last year, showing off a fairly complete game at both ends. He’s not just some big fella; Coleman-Jones is a talented passer, brings useful quickness defensively, and showed last winter that he’s become a dangerous outside shooter, as well. 

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

vs Gonzaga – November 18

N Creighton – November 26

N Texas A&M – November 30

N Oregon – November 27

N California – December 21

“I think my next step is to take my motor to the next level,” Coleman-Jones told the East Village Times this spring. “It’s good, it’s okay. It’s good for Middle Tennessee, though. Is it good enough for a deep tournament run? You know, so that is where I need to get as a player and coach (Dutcher) explained that perfectly to me.” One of the few things Dutcher lacked last season was one of things he holds most dear: a mobile, switchable rim protector at the back end of his pack line. While he may not be the defensive ace that former Aztec Nathan Mensah was, Coleman-Jones has good awareness, understands positioning, and is already an accomplished shot blocker. He’s also a vacuum on the defensive boards; JCJ grabbed the most defensive rebounds in Conference USA last year, and the second-most total boards in the league. If he can rev that motor at its highest level and absorb the Aztec coaching staff’s instruction, JCJ will get all the run he needs to take his game to even greater heights. He rarely dominated the paint offensively at MTSU, but Coleman-Jones operates all over the halfcourt and should be able to cash in on rolls or by popping for a jumper once he screens for the Aztec guards.  

With Saunders gone to Virginia, one of the prominent questions surrounding the ‘Tecs this summer has been: who will start beside Coleman-Jones? It will likely be a youngster, and the prime contenders are sophomore Miles Heide, redshirt freshman Magoon Gwath, and consensus 4-star freshman Pharoah Compton. The jewel of this year’s recruiting class, Compton is a force in the paint who wears the title ‘power forward’ with pride. He plays larger than the 6’8″ he’s listed at, as Compton is springy, mobile, and most of all aggressive near the basket. He’s also packed on some serious muscle in the past year. If he can get within arm’s reach of the rim, Compton is all but a sure bet to try and throw it down, and his developing offensive game is supported by constant putback tries and hustle points when the offense needs a boost. He’s a passionate player who sometimes lets his emotions run hot, but Dutcher and his staff have clearly established a rapport with Compton and are looking to focus his considerable energy in the most beneficial ways. Whatever his role to start, Compton will be bringing Aztec fans out of their seats early and often, and he has star potential going forward. 

Compton isn’t the only young big guy that Aztec fans are hyped to see suit up in earnest. Gwath is a seven-foot redshirt freshman whose go-go-Gadget wingspan and exciting defensive skills were the talk of more than a few practice sessions last winter. He may be a bit raw offensively, but his experience giving the starters great looks last season has clearly paid off. This summer, Gwath was showing off quick, lively feet and even some tantalizing spin-moves and drop-steps in working against his teammates, and the expectation is that he’s going to quickly become a problem inside once Mountain West foes have to deal with him. Gwath’s defensive potential is off the charts; he moves very well, is quite coordinated even with his long arms in tight spaces, and understands positioning well enough to stay vertical and use his wingspan rather than reaching and fouling. It’s tough to put vast expectations onto a kid who hasn’t yet seen live action, but SDSU has had terrific players over the years, and if Dutcher and his staff are giddy to see what Gwath can do, you know that something special is on its way. 

When he was able to get more than a few minutes last year, Heide showed why Dutcher has such high hopes for him. He didn’t quite average 10 minutes over the course of the season, but Heide flashed a good IQ for the game, real defensive potential, and the demeanor to give as good as he gets in the paint. The range on his jumper is improving, and Heide isn’t sneaky athletic – he’s a quality athlete with a deep understanding of the game. 

“My family played basketball, my dad and my mom both played at Oregon State,” Heide explains. “My sister plays basketball at California Berkeley. We’re a basketball family. I’ve always been around it and I’ve always wanted to play the sport.” The Washington native had three multi-block performances in a four-game span in the middle of February, and as his strength catches up to his awareness, Heide projects as a standout defender. As he’s absorbed more and more from the Aztec coaches this summer, Heide has grown closer to Dutcher’s ideal of a big who can allow all five Aztecs to switch on defense. He’s versatile enough to play the 4 or operate as the biggest guy on the floor, and Heide looks like a great bet to average 20+ minutes this winter. 

Just how large Dutcher’s rotation will be for the majority of this season is largely dependent upon the development of some guys who haven’t quite gotten their chance yet. In addition to Ferari fighting for a spot, BJ Davis was the team’s top freshman signee last fall. He only got into 12 games as a rookie, but Davis absorbed things during practices and has the look of a useful piece in the near future. He can drive for points and has a knack for getting to the foul line, and Davis has a solid handle plus the understanding that he won’t play if he gives away possessions. DeMarshay Johnson has been around the block and could add a veteran presence inside. He’s a solid defender and rim protector, but the young guys are going to give Johnson a fight for his spot. Like Gwath last year, Thokbor ‘David’ Majak is expected to redshirt as a freshman. At better than seven feet tall, he’s got more terrifying length in the middle, and Majak has already been described as one of the Aztecs’ quickest end-to-end athletes. 

San Diego State has become a brand-name program, and it’s no wonder the zombie Pac-12 and other leagues have courted the Aztecs fiercely over the past decade. SDSU will take part in the Player’s Era Festival in Las Vegas this fall against a who’s-who of elite programs from around the country, and in their mighty company the Aztecs will look like one of the usual suspects. 

It’s a team that is going to look quite different this year, but the expectation that SDSU will win big has gone nowhere. Young guys like Byrd and Heide can defend and  block shots, and they have gained experience from their predecessors in knowing what Dutcher demands. The Aztec defense might even be more ferocious than last year with big, switchable guys like Coleman-Jones and Gwath in the middle. Whatever the x’s and o’s, player movement, or conference affiliation, San Diego State has been built into an outstanding program, and that reality will endure.