The focus surrounding San Diego State’s basketball team this spring has been on retention, particularly regarding the eight players from last season’s promising roster who chose to bypass lucrative NIL deals and stay at Viejas Arena for the 2025-26 season.
However, Coach Brian Dutcher had four scholarships available due to the departure of three seniors and guard Nick Boyd, two of whom collectively started 59 games. This aspect of the Aztecs’ offseason, though less publicized, holds significant importance.
The team sought a skilled, pass-first point guard to direct the offense, as well as depth at power forward, an additional shooter, and backcourt length and versatility. They aimed to promote roster stability among different classes for future seasons.
The Aztecs secured a commitment from incoming freshman Tae Simmons, a strong 6-foot-7 forward from Heritage Christian High. Additionally, they signed forward Jeremiah Oden from Charlotte, point guard Sean Newman Jr. from Louisiana Tech, guard Latrell Davis from San Jose State, and guard Elzie Harrington from Bellflower St. John Bosco High School. Now that these four have finalized their scholarship agreements, they are officially off the recruitment table, allowing Dutcher to discuss them openly.
A common thread among these recruits is the existing familiarity that Dutcher’s coaching staff has with them, which streamlined the recruiting process. Both Oden and Davis have faced SDSU previously, while Assistant Coach Ryan Badrtalei had recruited Newman during his time at UC Irvine. Harrington was also on SDSU’s radar before choosing USC last fall.
Jeremiah Oden
Oden was previously on Dutcher’s radar when he first entered the transfer portal from Wyoming, but he ultimately chose DePaul. After a year, he transferred to Charlotte, where he faced injuries but secured a medical waiver for another year. “Getting another chance is great for us,” Dutcher stated. Oden, who has displayed versatility with his athleticism and shooting ability, averaged 13 points and 42.9% from beyond the arc against SDSU.
Latrell Davis
Hailing from Leeds, England, Davis notably excelled against the Aztecs last season, scoring 23 and 21 points in two matchups. Expressing a long-standing desire to play for SDSU, he views his past games as auditions. Dutcher acknowledged Davis’s familiarity with the Mountain West Conference and praised his capability to enhance the Aztecs’ defensive prowess.
Sean Newman Jr.
Newman’s impressive stat of 245 assists last season at Louisiana Tech caught the eye of SDSU coaches. With an average of 7.9 assists per game, he ranks high nationally. “Sean embodies a true pass-first point guard,” remarked Dutcher, highlighting Newman’s potential impact on the team’s shooting efficiency and overall game dynamics. He has the chance to further develop in his sixth year of NCAA eligibility.
Elzie Harrington
With a goal to bolster the team size in the backcourt, SDSU welcomed Harrington, a four-star prep prospect who brings versatility. After decommitting from Harvard for family reasons, he ultimately chose SDSU, valuing the support system in place. Ranked No. 47 in the class of 2025 by Rivals.com, Harrington is seen as a valuable addition who can play multiple positions, enhancing the overall strength of the team.
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