Throughout June and heading into the all-important July recruiting period, Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello will take a look at the summer checklists for the top 50 programs in college basketball, as revealed in Goodman's preseason ballot published in late May. Goodman and Borzello will show you each roster the way the coaches are looking at it, projecting graduation/NBA casualties and areas of need ahead of 2016-17. Below is the summer guide for the San Diego State Aztecs.
An index and schedule for the Summer Recruiting Bible series is located here.
Scholarship chart
Seniors (3): C Skylar Spencer, C Angelo Chol, G/F Winston Shepard
Juniors (3): SF Dakarai Allen, PG D'Erryl Williams, SF Matt Shrigley
Sophomores (2): G Trey Kell, F Malik Pope
Freshmen (3): PF Zylan Cheatham, PG Jeremy Hemsley, PF Brodricks Jones
Possible early entry losses after next season: Malik Pope
Available scholarships for 2016: Five (possibly six)
Committed prospects for 2016 and beyond: PF/C Nolan Narain
Biggest needs for 2016-17: Big man and a scoring guard
Must-haves: PF M.J. Cage (No. 35, California Supreme)
Targets: SF Brendan Bailey (No. 75, Dream Vision), PF M.J. Cage (No. 80, California Supreme), PG Jordan Ford (Oakland Soldiers), C Trevor Stanback (Pump N Run), SG Brandon Cyrus (CIA Bounce)
Summer scenario
Steve Fisher and the Aztecs will lose a couple of quality but replaceable big men in Spencer and Chol, and will also likely lose Pope early to the NBA. The key will be adding another front-line guy who can step in and help immediately -- but San Diego State has had success via the transfer wire and could ultimately choose to go that route. SDSU has only 11 scholarships filled for this season, so six could be open for the Class of 2016 if Pope leaves early. It's unlikely the program would use all six, but expect the Aztecs to sign a handful, with big men and a scoring guard the priority. There are some good young players in the program, including guards Kell and Hemsley and a talented big in Cheatham. The priority on the recruiting trail is Cage, the son of former NBA player Michael Cage.