In light of the recent decommit from Jordan Campbell I wanted to start a thread to discuss the 4 open scholarships SDSU basketball currently has and who may fill them.

I wish I could say I had no doubts when Coach Dutcher took over the program. That wasn't true. Replacing a legendary coach is not easy. The bar is already very high, and are there probably a lot more chances to push it lower than higher. The weight of expectations wears down a lot of good men. So let's take a quick inventory a year and a few months later …

RECRUITING

This was always Dutch's strength, in my opinion. He's a funny, relaxed, no BS guy who believes in his program. And he was instrumental in recruiting the Fab Five. That's probably proof enough. His first two classes deliver players who have the talent to take the program even higher.

LEADERSHIP

When the team was performing so inconsistently during the first half of last season, he stayed the course. He dealt calmly with injuries, navigated the media effectively, continued to reward effort with playing time, and, when everyone was on the court, led the team on a run to the NCAAs that was one makeable shot away from extending the dance.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Watching him in practice, this was always the area where I felt he needed to improve. It's one thing to bring talented guys in the door, it's another to make them better players before they leave. I'm not sure he's any better at that than before, which is why it's so important he make solid …

COACHING DECISIONS

This program faced a crisis when Justin and Tim left. They were part of a strong staff. He replaced them with Rod Palmer, who has a reputation similar to Hutson's, and now Jay Morris. So now he has the disciplinarian he needed (not a Dutcher strength in my opinion), and two guys in Morris and JD Pollock who have strong reputations for individual skill development.

If you're grading Dutcher on his first year, don't you have to give him an A?

Just read an article about Malik Pope signing with the Lakers summer league team. They refer to him as SDSU's all-time leading scorer. Is that right? If he is, I have to say I'm embarrassed that I didn't know that.

Either way I wish him nothing but the best. He comes across as a good guy.

So I’ve been on campus weekly for the last three months and can share with you after seeing some of the guys in an open run....

We’re going to be very very good. We had some major shake ups with guys stepping up after last season and vocal leadership on the court doesn’t seem to be an issue any longer.

Also seeing a new potential prospect that has a tremendous amount of upside should the Aztecs land him. However, cannot share too much more at this time...

Just know that aztec basketball is on the rise contrary to most people’s worries. Just know Dutcher and company have this team focused and in an upward trajectory

In case you don't read the local paper, the court ruled for SDSU West to go forward onto the ballot in November. This is rarely overturned.

SDSU West initiative gets judge's tentative OK for ballot

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sd-fi-sdsu-west-20180704-story.html

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-preps-notes-0707-story.html

Imperial pitcher sticking with SDSU instead of signing with pros
John Maffei


Before Karina Lopez passed away in September 2017, a victim of breast cancer, her fervent wish was that her son would earn a college degree.

So Kobby Lopez, a left-handed pitcher from Imperial High, has decided to forgo the Major League Baseball Draft and will honor his mother by playing next season at San Diego State.

“My mother wanted me to get my education first,” said Lopez, a first-team all-county player. “This is my way of honoring her.”

There were 34 players with San Diego ties taken in the June draft. Only three — Lopez, pitcher Ted Stuka of UC San Diego and pitcher Michael Knorr of Carlsbad — didn’t sign as Friday’s deadline to ink contracts passed.

Toronto Blue Jays, Lopez was 11-1 with a save and an 0.30 ERA for Imperial as the Tigers went 27-6, losing to University City in the Division III title game at USD’s Fowler Park. A game that Lopez didn’t pitch.

In 701/3 innings, Lopez allowed just 17 hits, walked 30 and struck out 130. He had seven double-digit strikeout games, including 15 against Brawley — a game that he said was his favorite — and 15 against University City in the playoffs.

He didn’t give up more than four hits in any start and threw a no-hitter against Holtville.

Knorr, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, was taken by the Padres in the 40th round of the draft.

He was 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 331/3 innings.

He was bothered by tightness in his shoulder and didn’t pitch after April 28.

He was at his best against the best teams, striking out 10 over 61/3 innings without allowing an earned run against Division II champion Mission Hills. He didn’t allow a hit over 41/3 innings against Open Division champion Torrey Pines.

“There is a lot to like there,” Torrey Pines coach Kirk McCaskill said of Knorr. “His stuff is real firm. His mechanics are real clean.”

Knorr is committed to play at Cal State Fullerton, where he’ll play with Joey Magrisi of Torrey Pines, the San Diego Section Player of the Year.

Stuka, a right-hander, was taken in the 39th round by the Baltimore Orioles as a draft-eligible sophomore.

He was 1-0 with three saves and a 3.69 ERA for the Tritons. He had 37 strikeouts in 312/3 innings.

Seems late

RIP

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...sonics-1979-nba-title-winners-dies-at-age-62/

I just became a Canterbury Rams fan. Both Winston and Xavier are on the roster. and starting.

The Rams are based in Christchurch, New Zealand, the pride of the South Island. We had an opportunity to visit a few years after the devastation of the '11 earthquake. The quake was very large and based near the city center. The soil liquified. This most English of Southern Hemisphere cities had collapsed into rubble. The "good news" was an even larger quake off the coast in late-'10 had destabilized the high-rise structures and many were condemned; so when they fell, the body count was much lower than it might have been.

When we visited, the city was scarred but pridefully rebuilding. A mall had been constructed of the shipping cartons that brought emergency goods, a museum honored the beautiful graffiti that adorned the fallen buildings, every salvageable wall was incorporated into the new construction, and the high-rises were rebuilt using massive wooden piers on floating foundations. A most amazing experience and a true tribute to the human spirit.

As some Mesa Forum members from years gone by may recall, my husband known to you as OhioAztec or SDSU1967, loved SDSU football and keeping up with team's recruiting and season stats by regularly checking the posts on the Aztec Mesa Forum. Thus, I am writing to share the news OhioAztec passed away on June 4th. When you attend the first Aztec football game, which we had hoped to attend, please tip your cap for Chuck knowing he will be cheering the team on from above. Thanks and GO AZTECS!

A Happy 4th of July you to ALL Of You in AztecSportsReport!

And a special thank you to all of those men, women and families who have, are or will serve in the Military for keeping America free!

Hey Guys: I don't expect many of you to be too familiar with me, I am Nick Krueger, I am the Texas recruiting analyst for Rivals. I am stopping by to drop off the link to a story on a guy that I spoke to last weekend at the adidas state 7v7 tourney - TJ McDaniel. He really put himself on the map earlier this spring with a couple of big-time offers but said that he's thinking about making a commitment between SDSU and SMU at this point. He does a little bit of everything and I think that he could flourish in either program. He should be making his decision relatively soon, and I like the Aztec's chances.

Thanks for having a look: STORY LINK

You talk about the doldrums. This is the first post since Saturday. Hang in there, Matt

Just read an article about Malik Pope signing with the Lakers summer league team. They refer to him as SDSU's all-time leading scorer. Is that right? If he is, I have to say I'm embarrassed that I didn't know that.

Either way I wish him nothing but the best. He comes across as a good guy.

Looks like we picked up another 2019 recruit per twitter in Turlock HS Garret Fountain. At 6-foot-4 and 215lbs Fountain looks to likely wind up at DL (or possibly LB), but even plays QB and is a standout baseball player as well. Also, explains Coach Lawson’s tweet last night.

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Was just looking at Roster, it is hard for Walk-ons might see the in JC next year.

A day after Brionne Penny committed, his teammate OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dixon pulled the trigger tonight as well. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 260 lbs. Looks like he plays basketball as well, so should have pretty good feet.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-sdsu-west-20180625-story.html

I'm not sure this is a smart move by SDSU. The lack of transparency in this and the mascot task force will influence many to not trust the admins at State.

The young man is very impressive. I believe this young man will start to blow up in recruiting very soon with 2900 yards and 40 touchdowns in his Jr. yr. Great start by SDSU with recruiting this year. Should even better in the next few months towards the end of summer.

Looks like a couple of new preferred walk-on WR’s per Twitter... Christian High Jesse Matthew and Aliso Viejo Tyler Jones.

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Commits...per twitter. Don't know anything about the kid but I'm guessing some of you do?

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I'm not familiar w/ her. Anybody know about this?

https://247sports.com/college/san-d...at-Stillwater-Set-to-Make-an-Impact-119355645

Per Canepa in the UT, Ed has Alzheimer's disease. Hang in there, Matt

Yesterday I am sorry to say. Leaves his wife and two teenage sons. A long battle with cancer, his first wife has passed away from in the late 80s..