Just the fact the Kawhi Leonard simply plays for San Diego State says all you need to know about how far the Aztecs’ basketball program has come under the leadership of coach Steve Fisher.
California’s “Mr. Basketball” is playing hoops at SDSU? Not UCLA? Not Cal? Not USC? Pepperdine? Fresno State?
Talk about your impossible dreams actually coming true. Now wake up Aztec fans, because a star was born in front of your eyes on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.
Leonard, the top high school basketball player in the state a year ago, made his first indelible mark on the college scene, scoring a career-high 23 points and dominating the boards with 18 rebounds as SDSU improved to 7-2 with its fourth-straight victory, a wire-to-wire 82-68 thumping of Cal State Fullerton.
Leonard’s rebounding total was the most by an Aztec in nearly four years, just two fewer than the 20 grabbed by Marcus Slaughter in January of 2006. The last freshman to reach Leonard’s lofty status on the glass was Michael Cage, 28 years ago in 1981.
“He doesn’t look like a freshmen, he doesn’t have a body like one,” said Fisher, now in his 11th year on the Montezuma Mesa. “He’s 225 pounds and strong. He’s not afraid to go in there and have someone elbow him in the nose. He’ll get after it. We knew we had a keeper when we got him. Now we have to help him get better. We have to keep him growing and keep him hungry, but he is going to be a terrific player for us.”
Of course, in order to create a terrific player, you must begin with some ammunition in the tool box. Leonard’s future at SDSU may currently be a somewhat blank canvas, but the paints and brushes have all been prepared and the possibilities seem endless.
Leonard stands 6-foot-7 and gives Fisher a lot of different options on the court. He currently starts at the small forward position, but he’s strong enough to play and score in the post and athletic enough to play the two-guard spot and score on drives to the basket.
Against Fullerton, he scored in a variety of ways, helping the Aztecs to runs of 11-2 and 8-0 for a comfortable 41-25 lead at halftime. His work on the boards included 10 rebounds at the offensive end as SDSU kept the Titans at arms length throughout the second half.
Showing another aspect or two of his all-around game, Leonard also led SDSU with five assists and two steals.
“I thought I would gradually get one of these types of games in, but not in the beginning because I didn’t have the experience,” said Leonard, who had six 20-point, 20-rebound games last season at Riverside’s King High School while leading his team to a 30-3 record and the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA championship.
“I just knew if I kept working at it, sooner or later, it would gradually come. I am feeling more confident due to the experience and playing more games. The first game I really didn’t know how the competition was going to be. Now I just prepare every day at practice and try to get better because I know what is expected in the game.”
What’s expected from the Aztecs in this 2009-10 season is certainly a far cry from the early dog-days of Fisher’s tenure, when the former NCAA Champion coach took over in 1999 and won just five games his first season.
Talent was far harder to come by then. But now coming off a school-record 26-win season a year ago and a semifinal appearance in the NIT, Fisher has been able to load up. Joining Leonard in this year’s freshman class is guard Chase Tapley, who was named the Northern California Player of the Year last season. Tapley scored 10 points against Fullerton, including a pair of three-pointers, for his third double-figure scoring game of the season.
Jumping-jack forward Billy White added 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, and another newcomer, transfer center Brian Carwell, established a career-high with 10.
Now the Aztecs must accomplish something that Fullerton (3-3) had accomplished earlier this season, and that is to post a non-conference victory over a marquee opponent. The Titans, in opening the season 3-0, beat UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.
SDSU will get its chance Saturday night at Viejas Arena against Arizona, which is only 4-4, but nevertheless brings a sizzle that the Aztecs haven’t been able to handle in recent years.
“We have not beaten Arizona since I’ve been here,” Fisher said. “I’m anxious to compete. It’s going to be a raucous crowd and a great atmosphere. It’s going to be a really good test for us to see if we are able to do what we could not do last year, that is get a marquee non-conference victory.”
If the stars are aligned — and Wednesday night led by Leonard they were — Saturday night could be the night.
– Ello –
