San Diego State University entered its summer basketball workouts with just five scholarship players on the court, a stark reduction that reflects a cascade of NCAA eligibility rulings and injury setbacks.
A Roster in Flux
The depletion began when senior forward Nick Anderson suffered a torn ACL in May, ending his season and forcing the Aztecs to turn to Isaiah Sy, a transfer from Oregon State, to plug the gap.
Coach Brian Dutcher has repeatedly emphasized that the team’s revenue‑sharing budget is fully allocated, leaving little room for additional scholarships, and that preserving chemistry among the existing roster is a higher priority than adding new faces.
The situation is further complicated by recent NCAA memos that tighten eligibility standards for European prospects, including Croatian forward Luka Skoric, Italian guard Luca Vincini and Italian forward David Torresani, who are currently on campus awaiting clearance.
A recent settlement between the Pac‑12 and Mountain West conferences over exit and poaching fees has removed a legal distraction, allowing both leagues to concentrate on student‑athlete support rather than litigation.
With only a week of summer sessions left before a mandatory break, the Aztecs are shifting focus to individual conditioning and injury prevention, hoping to emerge healthier for the fall schedule.