He explodes off the line and punishes defenders with his hits as a run blocker. Pleasant, Utah, originally pegged Oct. 29, his birthday, to announce his college choice between finalists SDSU, Washington and Arizona. SDSU's basketball team received a third commitment from a four-star high school prospect in Koren Johnson, a 6-2 guard from Seattle. McGee has sneaky speed and runs a variety of routes, making him more difficult to cover with just a linebacker. Saunders profiles like other recent additions to the Aztecs in another area. They have to evaluate what they think is best for them in the long term. 6-10 / Davis makes cuts and changes direction quickly, making it difficult for defenders to get in position to tackle him. Also, he is a dynamic threat after the catch, changing direction quickly and simply out-running defenders. This is one of the best recruiting classes in San Diego State history and it is headlined by local offensive lineman Josh SImmons. He was a four-star prospect out of Oak Park High in Ventura County, so SDSU could be an attractive option if he wants to return to Southern California. But I think Noah Avinger is the best player in this class and is going to be the next great San Diego State defensive back. Take this week. That gives Dutcher 14 players on scholarship for 2021-22, one over. No Aztecs taken in draft for second time in twelve years. 6-5 / Were trying to look at all those factors. And the Aztecs need transfers. He was named to the American Athletic Conferences all-freshman team after averaging 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. 6-4 / In Brian Dutchers quest to cook up another championship basketball team at San Diego State, he went out and got a Baker. Baker is technically still a freshman in the NCAAs eyes, but hes older than most after spending a year at prep school and one playing in college. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. 6-8 / 2022-23 San Diego State Aztecs Schedule | ESPN 210, SF / It was crazy, Fox told 247 Sports. 5 Seed, New Eco Ambassador Program Transforms Environmental Ed for Teens, Californias First Republic Bank Sold to JPMorgan in 2nd-Largest U.S. Bank Failure, Opinion: California Democrats at Odds Over How to Address Growing State Budget Deficit, Rear Admiral in San Diego Set to Take Over as Chief of Naval Research, Hiker Dies of Heat Exhaustion on El Capitan Trail in Lakeside, San Diego Coast Guard Crews Rescue Ailing Passengers from 3 Cruise Ships, Former Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Sex Acts with Teen Girl, New Teams of Canines, Handlers Finish Intense Training to Graduate from CHP Academy, Widespread Rain, Even Snow Expected in SD County Wednesday and Thursday, Take a Hike San Diego: Palm Canyons, Far and Near, and Wildflowers Everywhere, Republican Lawmakers Call California Utilities' Flat-Rate Electric Plan 'Crazy', Enjoy the Weekend Rain Expected to Fall in San Diego County Next Week, Opinion: Shuffling Around Administrators Will Not Help SDUSD's Failing Students, Salton Sea Area Shaken Saturday and Sunday by Swarm of Moderate Earthquakes, 'No Timeline' for San Clemente Tracks to Re-open So Amtrak Can Resume San Diego Service, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 2021-22 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team SDSU actively recruited him out of Roosevelt High when he picked Cal, then decommitted when Cal coach Cuonzo Martin went to Missouri and chose Kentucky. Relive the 2023 men's NCAA tournament , Huskies bring home fifth men's NCAA tournament title since 1999 with win over San Diego State, Aztecs fans climb wall around Viejas Arena after watch party reaches capacity, The security was not letting anyone inside due to max capacity..then terror struck https://t.co/ewkP4gtjpM, Were supposed to be here. You wont have to wait until next season to see Johnson play on TV. About | Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy 165, PF / AztecReport.com Football Recruiting - 247Sports (K.C. The 2021-22 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team represented San Diego State University during the 2021-22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. As a group, they rank 19th nationally by 247Sports and first among schools not in a power conference or, in the case of No. He is a difference-maker as both a receiver and a defensive back. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). He also received interest from Kentucky, Arkansas and Creighton. The latest Padres, Chargers and Aztecs headlines along with the other top San Diego sports stories every morning. Tip is set for 7 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on BYUtv. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. With the departure of Gomez, Baker would be plug-in replacement in the starting lineup. However, they dramatically stepped up their efforts in the 2021 class. His offensive metrics were through the roof. The other thing I like about him is that hes had nothing given to him. Ilaisa brings college-ready size to the offensive line. SDSU was one of his original five finalists out of high school in Mesa, Ariz., along with UCLA, Texas Tech and Iowa State. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll College Basketball and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 6-7 / Why recruit young, inexperienced, unproven high school players when you can just get old and stay old with the annual replenishment of proven commodities from an ever-deepening transfer well? Koren Johnson, a highly rated guard from Seattle who plays for Wasatch Academy in Mt. He is one of five Utah players in the portal. The Aztecs could conceivably put a lineup on the floor next season that goes 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-9 and 6-10, an average nearly three inches taller than the starting five in 2020-21 that had only one player over 6-6 and included 5-8 Terrell Gomez. I want them to have time to analyze their season, talk to their families and not just rush into a quick decision because we want to know. 195, PG / #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/uSQDEhHveg. The only high school senior that the Aztecs are actively recruiting, Washington initially picked Creighton but decommitted March 11 following racially insensitive comments by Bluejays coach Greg McDermott. 190, SG / 230, SF / Men's Basketball - SDSU Athletics - San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball 107 overall player in the 2022 class. He fills the Aztecs most pressing need after landing a star guard in Bradley and adding interior depth in Diabate. In two games against the Rams, he had 40 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, six steals and three blocks while going 8 of 9 behind the 3-point arc. Noah should play right away and has the potential to become an all-conference CB during his time in college. Terrell Gomez has already said he wont, and Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel are widely expected to follow him into professional basketball. He becomes the third member on the roster who can speak Spanish with Tomaic and Diabate. 2021 - 2022 Non-Conference Schedule. Find what players have committed to your favorite school. Videos, analysis and more on ESPN.com The college basketball season isnt even over yet, and it ended for a lot of people just a week ago. It will keep going. The Aztecs are building a great recruiting class as they . Former Duquesne F Chad Baker is transferring to San Diego State. He averaged a team-leading 19 points, 3.5 steals and 2.2 blocks in an eight-game COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season. San Diego State Recruiting 2021 Recruiting Breakdown: San Diego State A class led by a star and top-end talent By MikeWittmann and Zach_Ballard Feb 9, 2021, 10:00am PST Share Photo by. DJ may need time to focus solely on defense but he has the tools to succeed. Visit ESPN to view the latest San Diego State Aztecs news, scores, stats, standings, rumors, and more. 160, C / All College Basketball news fromFanSided Daily, Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season, Loyola Chicago Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Ramblers, NCAA Basketball: Ranking the last 25 NCAA Tournament champions, NCAA Basketball: 25 best NCAA Tournament upsets since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 25 best individual runs in the NCAA Tournament, NCAA Basketball: 25 biggest Selection Sunday snubs since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 25 best cinderella stories since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 20 best current home court advantages in college hoops, NCAA Basketball: 10 best National Championship finishes of all time, Mountain West Basketball: Examining 8 potential candidates for expansion, Chiefs Fans Brawled in the Stands After Loss to Chargers, New Mexico Basketball: Lobos should be excited about Jaelen House, Mountain West Basketball: Top 10 returning players for 2021-22 season, Nevada Basketball would be an ideal spot for transfer forward AJ Bramah. Duquesnes Chad Baker dunks the ball against Richmond during the Atlantic 10 tournament in March. Goulston met Derek Baker during a trip to the Dominican Republic. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. 6-2 / He also continues Dutchers trend toward size. 6-9 / 210, SF / San Diego State Aztecs MW Conference. @elijahsaunders_ is now an #Aztec4Life. The images will not be publicly released. I put obstacles in his way the last 48 hours because I wanted him to be sure, Derek said. The NCAA has offered athletes in all sports an extra year of eligibility, which further increases the usual glut of players looking for new homes as teams add incoming freshmen. . This is the kind of prospect San Diego State needs to get to remain at the top of the Mountain West, as teams such as Nevada and UNLV have been landing top-100 and key transfers as of late. He has a variety of pass-rushing moves to get past blockers and eats up blocks in the passing game. DJ hails from Bishop Gorman HS. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. DJ appears to be a solid, well-rounded middle linebacker who should be productive in college. That included 29- and 33-point games. At Arizona, he averaged 12.0 points while shooting 34 percent behind the arc last season before it ended prematurely with a broken wrist on Jan. 9. Mayden makes accurate throws in the pocket, or on the run and appears to command an offense well. Peak Perspective: Boise State had a gentle fall to rock bottom and has now rebuilt its foundation. Allen has options, too. 230, SF / What Johnson showed on Saturday that really stood out from previous viewings was his defensive intensity it was great to see him pick up full court and sit down and be a bulldog on the ball. He is also a stout blocker who can make an impact in the run game. College basketball recruiting: Duke keeps momentum going; San Diego Whoops! Murphy possesses great hands and combines them with precise route-tunning and a knack for getting open and looking for the ball. A four-star prospect, according to 247 Sports, Byrd is nationally rated as the No. Its a fair question for SDSU, which forged a sterling reputation for unearthing diamonds from a scrap heap that was about to get bigger with fewer restrictions. He turned 21 in January, just a year younger than the outgoing Mitchell and Schakel. That leaves guard Trey Pulliam and forward Joshua Tomaic as possible returnees. Two left the team in January, and seven were in the transfer portal this spring. Transfer Matt Bradley, in his SDSU debut, led the scoring with 23 points. NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 12 uncommitted class of 2023 The support staff around McDaniels and Flynn are believed to have played a big role in Johnsons recruitment, particularly after Washington made a late push to keep him home. The Aztecs latest and perhaps final addition via the transfer portal is Chad Baker, a 6-foot-7 wing from Duquesne of the Atlantic 10 who was born in the Dominican Republic, averaged 9.5 points as a true freshman, shot 41.7 percent behind the arc and maybe the most enticing part has four years of eligibility remaining because the NCAA designated last season as a freebie. And thats expected to be it for freshman, at least for now. If you recognize the name, its because he averaged 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds at San Jose State in 2018-19 (and had 18 points and 22 rebounds in two games against SDSU). Elijah Saunders commits to SDSU basketball | Aztecs- EVT Hes long, really skilled offensively, can really shoot the ball and has a little swagger and confidence to him. He doesnt appear to be slowed down by double teams and can also be a factor in the run game with his understanding of gap assignment. SDSU Aztecs Basketball Summer Roundup/SDSU Aztecs EVT Tyrell will add a much-needed dynamic to the Aztec offense. On the first week of the July evaluation period, Dutcher didnt go to the high-profile tournaments back east but quietly drove to Los Angeles for a small event where Johnson was playing. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: The San Diego State Aztecs celebrate their 68-57 victory over the Utah State Aggies in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. FB Recruiting Home; News Feed; Team Rankings; Commitments; Decommitments; Scheduled Commits; Player Rankings; . Stay up to date with all the San Diego State Aztecs sports news, recruiting, transfers, and more at 247Sports.com. 247Sports . Commits: ESPN 100 Commits . 200, SG / He regularly jumps routes and flies around the field to get to the ball. He can find the smallest hole to burst through with his vision and can also be utilized in the passing game. Today looks at the #1 team in our rankings, San Diego State. Luepke helped lead the Bison to the 2019 and 2021 FCS national championships. From the desert to paradise in America's Finest City. 11/10/2021 4:18:00 PM. 195, PF / Hes an overlooked, under-the-radar kid with the proverbial chip on his shoulder. No. He immediately gets into the proper position after the snap, staying low in his stance and displaying sound footwork in pass protection. It is one of several atmospheric conditions that harmoniously converged this year to create ideal harvest conditions for the Aztecs. The trick was finding a wing who could guard multiple positions in SDSUs switching defensive scheme and make 3s at a high rate after losing Schakel and Mitchell. 184, C / Aztecs. He loves their honestly, Wasatchs Peterson said. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. 6-2 / PG. Gambling Problem? But he grew up dreaming of playing for USC and committed shortly after the Trojans offered him. Another plus: SDSU has seven seniors on its 2021-22 roster, offering freshmen entering next season the real possibility of immediate playing time. He and two other former Aztec players say they are innocent. 195, PF / He can play up in the box, in a short zone, in coverage, or as a deep safety. 9/23/2022. San Diego State DL Jonah Tavai, WR Jesse Matthews best prospects for three-day draft, though several Aztecs expected to be free-agent signings, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. 6-5 / He moves backward well in pass-protection and doesnt get beat by speedy defenders thanks to his footwork and angles on his blocks. He wants to be the best him possible, and he knows its only going to come from being coached hard. 15 in California. San Diego State DL Jonah Tavai, WR Jesse Matthews best prospects for three-day draft, though several Aztecs expected to be free-agent signings, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. II all-American from Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., with a bouncy, bruising game and an affinity for finishing in the lane with ferocious two-handed dunks. 195, PG / 20h; San Diego State did outstanding work on the recruiting trail. 2021 Recruiting Breakdown: San Diego State. 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Elijah Saunders announced his commitment to the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team on Friday. . His father, Calvin . On Monday, the University of Michigan released its non-conference schedule and San Diego State was among the teams listed. 6-10 / He can play both backcourt positions given his handles, court vision and perimeter shooting ability, but Wasatch Academy coach Paul Peterson considers him a point. People are still processing what they think they want to do, so I think whats in the portal is only a fraction of whats going to be in there. He plays tight coverage and has great closing speed as he times his strides perfectly to make a play on the ball. But while the Aztecs are the mid-major team of the group, theyre also the lone western-based option for thePhoenix, Arizona native. They pushed their chips into the table and went all in, making sure they had at least one coach at all their games in July at the expense of seeing other players. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Josh is an incredible local talent San Diego State was able to convince to stay home. 247Sports Home; FB Rec. Mountaintop View 5-1-23. San Diego State going to Maui in 2022 - Mountain West Wire And he has a high basketball IQ as the son of a coach. 6-7 / He is a Div. Haskell is going to need some time to develop, but he has the size and speed at quarterback that the Aztecs have been missing. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports William has the potential to be the quarterback SDSU has lacked for years. Mailbag: Who are the top 10 quarterbacks in the Group of 5? That was his junior season after spending his first two at City College of San Francisco. 6-7 / Hank Bachmeier . 115 at his position, No. Zyrus will be a nice weapon for defensive coaches to use in his time with the program. A look at potential transfer targets for Aztecs basketball Hearing slated Thursday for battle over release of videos to civil attorneys for Matt Araiza, former SDSU punter accused of assaulting teen. Another DJ in this class and this one is a defensive back, although he also played QB in high school. Sometimes its as simple as looking to see if a kid is a double holdback (and old for his grade) or if hes a young senior in high school, in which case theyve got more time to develop. He is pretty precise on his routes and changes directions smoothly. https://t.co/MbFHpt3917, College basketball world not about the late East Coast start time. Johnson recently played in the PrimeTime 40 Showcase, an invitation-only event in Portland for the top prep prospects from the Northwest, and was honored as the alpha dog by organizers. Jalen should be able to find a role with the team in some fashion next year. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - SDSU Athletics