AztecSportsReport.com - Mailbag on the Mesa

October 15, 2012

Agustin Gonzalez
AztecSportsReport.com Publisher

Editor's note: Every week ASR Publisher Agustin Gonzalez will answer some questions from fans about the Aztecs in this weekly mailbag. Send questions to augonzal711@yahoo.com, @Agustin_ASR on Twitter, post questions on the message board or put questions on ASR's Facebook page.

mcerve: There were rumors about a Basketball practice facility being built. Is there truth to that? If so, when?

There is actually a lot of validity to those rumors. Right now there's no exact timetable, but we heard from a source close to the situation that on-going talks regarding the construction of a basketball practice facility are "very serious" and it's "likely to happen." The football program's move to the Big East and the bigger paycheck that comes with it is a major reason why these talks are even taking place, as SDSU and basketball coach Steve Fisher -- who has built a Top 20 program without Top 20-type resources -- are now in a good position to make the construction of an on-campus practice facility a reality.

Several potential locations for the practice facility are being discussed, and the source said the Aztec Bowl behind Viejas Arena is one possibility.

Stonewallbrigade: We seem pretty close to finished football recruiting. I still see a couple cb's out there if they are going after?Kalan Montgomery,Tyler Williams. Who do you see as their main targets with the few scholarships left open. Who if any of the four Freshman linemen has a chance to be an impact player next year. I think the line is pretty bad this year except for Nik and Alec, too many mistakes by the new starters.

You're right, SDSU is still waiting on a handful of guys, but with 16 verbal commitments already the class is almost complete. We know that the coaching staff wants another tight end or two, an impact wide receiver and maybe another linebacker. We've also been hearing recently that SDSU may offer a new quarterback or two as well.

It looks like some of the main targets right now are tight ends Brady Moore and Matt Burke and wide receiver Julius Wilson. Also, if the Aztecs pick up a verbal from another defensive back such as Charles Okonkwo, Kalan Montgomery or Chidobe Awuzie, I think they'd accept their commitment as well.

Switching gears to the next part of your question, I think Nico Siragusa is the best bet to have an impact next year. When Garrett Corbett went down in fall camp, Siragusa stepped in to work with the second stringers and he held his own. The coaches are also very excited about Kwayde Miller and Austin Maass, and they have bright futures ahead of them.

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mcerve: What is the rule with college basketball teams playing overseas prior to Midnight Madness? Do you know why the Aztecs don't do this? I know the Fab 5 wasn't excited about going to Europe (according to the ESPN documentary) is that why?

This is a great question. Fisher had done some overseas exhibition tours while at Michigan, but has never done any during his tenure at San Diego State. We heard that Fisher has contemplated it in past years, but it seems like he just never felt that it made sense to do with the circumstances and the teams he's had.

Although it's something that may happen in the future, I think it would be unlikely to happen for a couple of reasons.

The NCAA just passed a rule that allowed college coaches a six week period this summer that they could treat the same way as early season practices, where they got two hours per day up to eight hours per week to work with their players. Before this summer, the only way college coaches could work with their players was if the team played exhibitions overseas, so it's almost easier not to do those types of trips now.

Also, with the recent APR question marks, it's probably more valuable having the players stay home and take summer school so they can take less units during the school year.

Phil: Rivals.com just released their Midseason Scouting Report, and among the players discussed by one analyst, Rob Cassidy, is cornerback Cole Luke of Hamilton H.S. in Chandler, AZ.?I notice that he has a lot of offers on the table, including one from the Aztecs. Anyway of asking him if we are in serious contention?

Tony White and the Aztecs offered Luke a long while back, before his recruitment really blew up. Luke and Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton were actually on campus participating in one of SDSU's passing camps this summer, but by that point Luke's recruitment had gone national and the coaching staff wasn't going to waste its time. I think SDSU invited Chandler Hamilton to get a look at some of Luke's teammates, quarterback Allen Thigpen (who stayed an extra day in San Diego to attend the Aztecs' skills camp) and 6-foot-3 2014 safety Juwan Jones (who picked up an offer after the camp).

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