Aztecs Win One and Lose One

SAN DIEGO —  There was good, bad and uncertain news for the San Diego State men’s basketball team on Wednesday.

The Aztecs were pleased to announce they had signed 6-foot 8-inch center-forward Kevin Brown of Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Mich. to a national letter of intent. They were not so pleased that Brown’s teammate, John Jimmerson, had signed with Marquette. And they were still waiting to hear whether Wilbert Frazier of New Haven, Conn. will sign with them.

Brown and Jimmerson held a press conference last month to announce they would both attend San Diego State. But while Brown stuck by his word, Jimmerson had a last-minute change of heart.

Frazier, who led Wilbur Cross High to the Connecticut state large-school championship, did not make his choice on Wednesday. Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines considers the 6-7, 242-pound Frazier to be “somewhat similar” to Charles Barkley, the former Auburn All-American.

Brown fits the “big, strong people” mold Gaines was seeking. At Ottawa Hills last season, Brown averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

The Aztecs are in definite need of frontcourt players. Starting forwards Michael Kennedy and Andre Ross and starting center Leonard Allen played out their eligibility last season.

Gaines said he was uncertain how Brown would fit in next year.

“It’s hard to say, until you’ve finished your recruiting,” he said. “Kevin is a shade better than Leonard Allen was when Leonard first came here. He’s stronger and more mature than Leonard was then. He’s about half a year ahead of where Leonard was.”

Jimmerson, a consensus Michigan all-state selection, told Gaines recently he was having second thoughts about attending San Diego State. After signing with Marquette, Jimmerson only told reporters it was “the best situation for me.” He did not elaborate.

If the Aztecs sign Frazier, it could make up for losing Jimmerson. Frazier averaged 14.4 points a game last season and was among his state’s top prospects.

“He’ll probably be 6-10 before he’s done growing,” Gaines said. “His father was about seven-feet tall. I saw him play in the state championship, and he’s a big, strong kid.”

The Aztecs had signed two players to early letters of intent in November--forward Steffan Johnson, a 6-8 transfer from Louisiana State, and 5-11 point guard Tracy Dildy from Martin Luther King High in Chicago.

Meanwhile, the San Diego State women’s team signed 5-11 forward Jessica Haynes of Central High in Omaha, Neb. Haynes, a two-time all-state performer, was also selected as a second-team All-American by Parade magazine.

Women’s coach Earnest Riggins was in Nebraska early Wednesday to sign Haynes. Last season, Haynes averaged 22 points and 11.6 rebounds, both state highs. She led her team to a 72-2 record in three years, including a state-record 58-game winning streak.

“Jessica certainly deserves to be ranked among the top high school players in the country this year,” Riggins said. “She is strong in all phases of the game. She has been one of the top players on our recruiting list all along.”