Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season! To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel. Next up #21: San Diego State Aztecs
Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, and Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs.
#21 – San Diego State Aztecs
2011/12: 26-8, lost NCAA Tournament Second Round
Key Returning Players:
Chase Tapley – Shooting Guard – Senior
15.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg, 77-178 3Pts
Xavier Thames – Point Guard – Junior
10.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.0 spg
James Rahon – Shooting Guard – Senior
8.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Jamaal Franklin – Shooting Guard – Junior
17.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
Key Newcomers:
Winston Shepard – Small Forward – #21 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Skylar Spencer – Center – #126 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Dwayne Polee II – Small Forward – Sophomore (transfer from St. John’s)
J.J. O’Brien – Small Forward – Sophomore (transfer from Utah)
Top NBA Prospect:
Jamaal Franklin – projected first round pick in 2014
Outlook:
Steve Fisher has built himself a perennial mid-major powerhouse out West. The Aztecs return reigning Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Jamaal Franklin, Second Team All-Mountain West recipient Chase Tapley, Honorable Mention All-Mountain West’s Xavier Thames, and they bring in a top-rated recruiting class, led by one of their biggest recruits (in terms of national ranking) ever, Winston Shepard. Oh – and they added two valuable transfer, Dwayne Polee II and J.J. O’Brien, too. This team is going to be a very difficult out come Tournament time.
Preseason Top 25
#22 – Saint Louis Billikens
#23 – Memphis Tigers
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#25 – Texas Wildcats
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