Max Hoetzel verbally committed to the San Diego State Aztecs on Tuesday via social media after visiting the campus with Steve Fisher and the coaching staff. Hoetzel will sit out the 2015-16 season and will be eligible to play in the 2016-17 season.
Despite forgoing the 2014-15 without signing a single transfer coach Fisher and staff signed a transfer who will have three years of eligibility and also fits the profile of a San Diego State transfer.
The former Hoosier announced his transfer from Indiana University on March 27 with the intent to find a program which will grant him more playing time closer to his family in Southern California. Hoetzel attended prep school in Massachusetts at Wilbraham & Monson, but he is originally from Calabasas, California, and played at Calabasas High.
Hoetzel is a former three-star recruit and has lot of upside. He impressively opened the 2014-15 season against Mississippi Valley State with 19 points, nine rebounds in just 19 minutes. The rest of his time at Indiana he only averaged 2.4 points in 7.7 minutes per game. Hoetzel fell behind Collin Hartmann in the depth chart and wasn’t able to shoot the ball the way he wanted to.
Hoetzel makes his game beyond the arc, once making a nine three-pointers in a game at Wilbraham & Monson. He figures to be a small or power forward on the court because his size closely matches Winston Shepard and his solid perimeter shot is like Matt Shrigley.
The Aztecs have only more scholarship to award for the 2016 season and will still be in the market for another transfer.