Mountain West Connection - 2014-15 San Diego State basketball player profilesAll you need to know about the Mountain West, and then somehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50409/mwc-fav.png2014-10-30T12:09:15-07:00http://www.mwcconnection.com/rss/stream/68455142014-10-30T12:09:15-07:002014-10-30T12:09:15-07:00Winston Shepard could and should be 'the guy'
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>Steve Fisher and his Aztecs have their sights set on the Final Four. Fisher conducts the train, but junior Winston Shepard will be relied upon to turn the wheels.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego State Aztecs</a> didn't have too many eyes on them before the start of last season. Now the team that was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West in 2014 is just about <a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/2014-15-mountain-west-basketball/2014/10/14/6975521/2014-15-mountain-west-basketball-media-predictions-san-diego-state" target="_blank">everyone's 2015 conference champion</a>.</p>
<p>Junior <span>Winston Shepard</span> has seen a similar increase in popularity from his sophomore to junior campaign. Although he started 34 games for the Aztecs and was their second leading scorer with an 11.6 points-per-game average, Shepard was never really the team's primary threat. This year, he's one of two Aztecs to earn preseason all-conference honors from the Mountain West media.</p>
<p>With two major staples from last year's team now gone, leading scorer <span>Xavier Thames</span> and leading rebounder <span>Josh Davis</span>, Shepard will bare the responsibility of being a constant aggressor on offense. One thing he made a point to work on this off-season was his offensive mindset.</p>
<p>"I continued to work on the mental part of my game. Staying in attack-mode," Shepard said at a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZgZ4iSmySw" target="_blank">press conference last month</a>. "I always remember the Air Force game where I think I went the first 32 minutes with two points, and the last five minutes I had 14. So I'm just trying to stay in attack-mode, keeping constant pressure on the defense, and to continue to make better decisions with the ball."</p>
<p>By the numbers, it looks as if he has been working on the right things. Shepard led the team with 80 turnovers last year and his 18.4 percent mark from beyond the arc was the worst percentage among Aztecs who attempted a 3-pointer. Shepard showed last year that he could get to the rim and finish, but it's awfully hard to lead the team in scoring when you can't shoot and like to give the other team the ball.</p>
<p>With unknowns at the point guard position, Shepard could bring the ball up the floor when there isn't a "traditional" point guard in the lineup. J.J. O'Brien is probably best suited for that role of all the forwards, but you can bet Shepard will be called upon to run the point at some point early in the season.</p>
<p><span>Ball control is a premium skill set for 6-foot 8 forwards. If Shepard doesn't have a lick of it, he'll play himself out of big-lineup minutes. If he's made significant improvement, it could open up Pandora's Box in terms of the junior's star potential.</span></p>
<p><span>To steal a line from the golf legend Ben Hogan, "The secret is in the dirt." Shepard's play this season will directly reflect the work he put in when no one was watching. </span></p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/mountain-west-basketball/2014/10/30/7132453/san-diego-state-basketball-winston-shepard-could-and-should-be-the-guy-for-the-aztecsRafael Avitabile2014-10-29T16:15:53-07:002014-10-29T16:15:53-07:00Injury lengthens Zylan Cheatham's road to the top
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The incoming freshman Zylan Cheatham will have to wait a while to make his SDSU debut.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego State Aztecs</a> will have to wait for the debut of one of their four exciting young freshman. Zylan Cheatham, SDSU's third-highest rated prospect according to ESPN, suffered a broken bone in his foot which should keep him out at least until around January 1.</p>
<p>The four-star recruit out of South Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona, is part of one of the finest recruiting class in SDSU's history and should bring needed depth to an already strong starting squad heading in to the season. However, Cheatham, who is listed at 6-foot-7, will fall behind in his development as surgery will keep him on the bench for the early part of the season.</p>
<p>Relatively little is known about coach Steve Fisher’s plans for Cheatham at this point due to the injury, but the freshman has been heralded as a great athlete that brings plenty of toughness both on offense and defense. Aztec fans know that Fisher loves athletic players which he can use at multiple positions and contribute to his lockdown defense. Cheatham is another project with loads of talent that should flourish with a little tutelage under some of the upperclassmen and great developmental coaching.</p>
<p>Cheatham was supposed to come into the season and provide needed size behind both <span>Angelo Chol</span> and <span>Skylar Spencer</span> down low. Upon his return, expect him to be given a serious run at the backup big man positions.</p>
<p>If we fast forward to January 1, the earliest likely date for Cheatham’s return, the Aztecs will be gearing up for the Mountain West season and will have finished up their tough non-conference schedule. Cheatham’s season will likely hinder a lot on how the roster performs early on. That isn’t to say he won’t be given a chance, though, by Fisher.</p>
<p>But the later his return, the more likely the rotation will have become concrete. Cheatham's return date will leave little time to build needed on-court chemistry with his teammates before the schedule becomes increasingly more difficult and the stakes grow higher for the Aztecs.</p>
<p>The future is bright for the young freshman, but the road into the rotation will be a slow one. Expect to see a slow start to Cheatham’s career with the Aztecs. He will definitely take off at some point, we just won’t know when.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/29/7082151/san-diego-state-basketball-injury-will-make-zylan-cheathams-road-to-prominence-a-long-oneZachLoper2014-10-29T10:52:08-07:002014-10-29T10:52:08-07:00Dwayne Polee: Starter or sixth man?
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<figcaption>Dwayne Polee II rises for a slam dunk against Arizona in the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship | Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>Senior forward Dwayne Polee II excelled in his role as the sixth man last year for the Aztecs, but with Xavier Thames and Josh Davis gone, Polee will most likely step into a starting role.</p> <p>When San Diego State basketball hosted No. 6 Arizona last November, <span>Dwayne Polee II</span> didn't play a single minute in the 69-60 loss.</p>
<p>At that point in the season, no one was predicting that Polee would play a vital part in SDSU's 31-5 campaign. No one thought he'd be named Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-7 senior forward averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last year, while also shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, which led the team.</p>
<p>The numbers don't begin to tell the story. The numbers don't mention his game-winning 3-pointer at Boise State last February, nor do they mention Polee's vital role in the 1-3-1 zone defense that the Aztecs employed so well in a come-from-behind win over No. 21 ranked New Mexico, a win that sealed a regular season Mountain West Conference Championship.</p>
<p>Polee is projected by many to be a starter this year. He was named to the Mountain West Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team and garnered preseason attention from <a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/16/6973551/san-diego-state-basketball-dwayne-polee-ii-bleacher-reports-20-most-fundamentally-sound-players">Bleacher Report</a> and <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sdsu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/MBBAccolades1415.pdf">other sources.</a></p>
<p>He's tall, lanky, plays well and, along with being in the preseason media spotlight, is loved by SDSU's student section, "The Show."</p>
<p>And back to the 1-3-1 zone: he plays at the top of it, using his size and athleticism to disrupt opponents' offenses.</p>
<p>Head coach Steve Fisher said at a recent press conference that the team's identity is still a bit unknown. He said he doesn't know who will start in the exhibition against Point Loma on Nov. 7, and that his starting five may change throughout the season.</p>
<p>So if Fisher is still up in the air about who will start, it doesn't do much good to project that Polee <i style="font-weight: bold;">will </i>start -- much less predict he'll start for the entire season. As Fisher said, we may see several different starting lineups this year.</p>
<p>If Polee does start, however, he could not only average more than 10 points per game, but would also be a nuisance for opposing teams to deal with and could earn a spot on the MWC All-Defense team.</p>
<p>Could he keep that up for a whole game?</p>
<p>Polee is Fisher's battle-tested, "not-so-secret-anymore" weapon that can come off the bench and ignite a crowd and change the game in a small amount of time. But the jury is still out whether Polee can be that same player as a starter.</p>
<p>If he doesn't start, <span>Angelo Chol</span> would most likely take his place. But no matter what, Polee should get a lot of minutes this season, especially in critical moments.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/29/7085433/san-diego-state-basketball-dwayne-polee-ii-enters-season-in-the-spotlightPatrick Carr2014-10-28T14:46:29-07:002014-10-28T14:46:29-07:00Trey Kell has big sixth-man potential
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<figcaption>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Freshman Trey Kell adds another dimension to the Aztec's backcourt with a polished offensive game and a defensive game not too far behind.</p> <p>The San Diego State freshman shooting guard and native San Diegan Trey Kell, who played his high school career just 15 minutes away from Viejas Arena, adds range and a high basketball acumen to this already deep Aztec squad.</p>
<p>In the few months the <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/170954/trey-kell">ESPN four-star recruit</a> has been working out with his team, he has already left his head coach praising his play.</p>
<p>"Kell has a very unique feel for how to play, and that's hard to teach," <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sdsu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/menshoopspresserquotes.pdf">head coach Steve Fisher said in his weekly press conference</a>. "He instinctively makes plays that you don't teach."</p>
<p>Kell's play style on the offensive side of the ball is beyond his years as he demonstrates great knowledge and understanding for the game. In terms of shooting, he might rival any player on the team with his ability to drain the deep ball, hit the mid-range jumper and finish at the basket. Not to mention that he is lethal off the bounce.</p>
<p>The freshman also has great instincts in terms of where the open man will be and could take over the distributing duties if he is the sole guard on the court. He also is a strong rebounder, averaging 11 rebounds in his final season at Saint Augustine. He can follow up his shot and slip past opposing defenders to attack the boards a few times a game.</p>
<p>Defensively, Kell is able to quickly identify passing lanes and disrupt opposing offenses. Along with his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, Kell will be able to torment smaller opposing wing players.</p>
<p>Kell does need to work on his overall quickness and first step off the bounce. The true freshman also needs to work on his lateral quickness against quicker guards and to keep his feet moving at all times to not get caught flat-footed.</p>
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<p>Athletically, Kell will not jump out of the gym or beat you with his speed, but his offensive repertoire makes up for his game and will make him invaluable coming off the bench this season. With the open competition in the backcourt and Kell's ability to score from anywhere on the court, it will be hard for coach Fisher to not turn to this local product and give him sufficient playing time.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_DpwOPxx8L0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014-15-mountain-west-basketball/2014/10/28/7082297/san-diego-state-basketball-freshman-trey-kell-has-big-sixth-man-potentialAnthony Reclusado2014-10-28T11:28:20-07:002014-10-28T11:28:20-07:00Is Malik Pope the next Kawhi Leonard?
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>The 6-foot-10 freshman has a scary blend of size and guard capabilities that will keep the University of Kansas up at night for not being able to sign him. </p> <p>It's now time to preview arguably the best San Diego State athlete to step foot onto the Mesa since NBA Finals MVP <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>, and that is freshman forward Malik Pope.</p>
<p>Coming in at 6-foot-10 (over 7 feet if you include his hair) and 205 pounds out of Elk Grove, California, Pope possesses a scary blend of height and guard capabilities that only comes around so often.</p>
<p>Pope stands alone at the top as the most highly touted recruit of SDSU's program-best freshman class. He received a <a href="https://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Malik-Pope-137956" target="_blank">five-star rating and was No. 17 </a>in the Rivals150 rankings. He was also <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/162770/malik-pope" target="_blank">No. 55 on the ESPN 100 rankings</a>, and they gave him four stars.</p>
<p>All these stellar rankings came despite the fact that Pope has not played since his junior year of high school due to two broken legs. In that junior year, Pope averaged 16.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.</p>
<p>Kudos to Steve Fisher, Brian Dutcher and the rest of the SDSU coaching staff for not giving up on one of the most athletically gifted players in the country. They were able to pluck Pope over Kansas, Gonzaga and a plethora of Pac-12 schools.</p>
<p>What makes Pope so talented is similar to what makes his teammate <span>Winston Shepard</span> so valuable, and that is being able to play the guard position with above-average height and create matchup problems.</p>
<p>However, Shepard is not a good comparison to Pope because, unlike Shepard who had a 18 percent 3-point percentage last season, Pope will be a factor in the 3-point game and is a threat to shoot from anywhere on the floor. He shot 60 percent from the floor his junior season and shot 48 percent from 3-point range.</p>
<p>Now the question is, where will Pope play, and how much will he play?</p>
<p>There's no doubt that Fisher cannot wait to unleash his freak-athlete freshman, but it doesn't look like Pope will be in the starting five, at least to begin the season.</p>
<p>J.J. O' Brien, <span>Dwayne Polee II</span>, <span>Matt Shrigley</span> and Dakari Allen will all be competing with Pope for playing time at the three and four spot, but it would not be a surprise if Pope starts to earn himself substantial minutes throughout the season as he develops.</p>
<p>Look for Pope to spend a majority of his time playing the three-guard out on the wing, while also spending some time at the two-guard and four positions depending on the rotation.</p>
<p>It's tough to say how many minutes Pope will accumulate this season. The Aztecs have a lot of talented, experienced player competing for a few spots.</p>
<p>What is for certain, though, is that SDSU has one of the best athletes in the country on their hands, and they can look forward to the buzz he will bring to Viejas Arena this year -- and possibly three more after that.</p>
<p>Here are some videos of Pope in high school and AAU ball.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iJqBADAtjw8" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vZ8xXKmvsyU" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/28/7083963/san-diego-state-basketball-malik-pope-may-be-the-best-SDSU-athlete-since-kawhi-leonardRyan Posner2014-10-27T12:05:08-07:002014-10-27T12:05:08-07:00SDSU hoops player profile: Kevin Zabo
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If what they're saying is true, Kevin Zabo is going to be a special player for the Aztecs. In this case, "they" refers to Zabo's teammates and coaches, so they probably know what they're talking about.</p> <p>San Diego State's freshman point guard Kevin Zabo has been drawing nothing but compliments during his short time on campus. Few people outside of this year's team have seen Zabo play, but it sounds like the freshman out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire will be an integral part of the Aztecs roster this season.</p>
<p><span>"He's a true point guard," </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/11/sdsu-basketball-first-impressions-preseason/">Winston Shepard told the U-T San Diego's Mark Zeigler.</a> "That's the best way I can describe him. He has the handles. He can shoot. He can command the team. He can play the pick and roll. And when you come from a prep school, you're a little better prepared to make the transition to the college game."</p>
<p>It's comments like these that lead people to believe that Zabo will emerge as the starting point guard in 2014 over senior Aqeel Quinn, sophomore D'Erryl Williams and fellow freshman Trey Kell. Zabo flew under the recruiting radar while at Brewster, and is ranked the lowest out of SDSU's four highly-touted freshmen.</p>
<p><span>As a senior, Zabo led the Brewster Bobcats to a National Prep Championship title and a NEPSAC class AAA title. He also represented Canada in the FIBA Under-17 World Championships last summer and averaged nearly 13 points per game. It seems like Winston Shepard and J.J. O'Brien are settling into their leadership roles nicely, but the Aztecs could get a nice spark from the battle-tested newcomer who's been described as </span><a href="http://www.thedailyaztec.com/57415/sports/mens-hoops-hosts-first-practice/" target="_blank">wise beyond his years</a><span>.</span></p>
<p>We all know Steve Fisher is no stranger to starting freshman. Former Aztec point guard D.J. Gay started 26 of 33 games as a freshman and went on to become the Aztecs' all-time leader in games played. Former guard Chase Tapley and forward <span>Billy White</span>, the two Aztecs tied for second all-time in games played, started 17 and 28 games respectively in their freshman campaigns. If Zabo's career at SDSU lasts four years, he's got a pretty good shot at Gay's record.</p>
<p>Zabo's name is buzzing because of what he might do for SDSU in the future. For old times sake, let's look at his official senior year highlight tape courtesy of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzUXDlebia_QLqwMv2QVoxA">2ez Gang </a>on Youtube.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GihBeJwOPZQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014-15-mountain-west-basketball/2014/10/27/7076857/san-diego-state-basketball-freshman-kevin-zabo-is-ready-to-be-an-impact-player-for-the-aztecsRafael Avitabile2014-10-24T13:47:54-07:002014-10-24T13:47:54-07:00SDSU hoops player profile: Aqeel Quinn
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<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA</figcaption>
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<p>The senior-transfer product came on strong last season in extended playing time, and provides Steve Fisher with experience at an extremely young point guard position. </p> <p>It's going to be a fight to see who gets the lion's share of minutes at point guard for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego State Aztecs</a> this season, but no other candidate provides the experience that senior <span>Aqeel Quinn</span> brings to the table.</p>
<p>After transferring from Cal State Northridge after his sophomore season, "AQ" practiced with the team the entire next year, and in his junior season he flourished with extended playing time.</p>
<p>Quinn averaged a little over 16 minutes per game, but his playing time increased as the season went on. He played in the team's final 29 games, and even got a start against Colorado State.</p>
<p>Coming off the bench against Fresno State last season, Quinn dropped a career-high 17 points in a 82-67 win on the road. In that game, Quinn hit six of seven field goals and made four of five 3-pointers.</p>
<p><span><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rRcE2RVquJs" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></p>
<p>While the 17-point outburst was flashy for the stat book, this was just a microcosm of what Quinn had been doing all season for the Aztecs. Quinn hit 28 3-pointers last season and had a .350 percent conversion rate on those shots, both of which were fourth-best on the team.</p>
<p>Along with his shooting range, Quinn provided a spark on defense with his lengthy 6-foot-3 frame and quick hands that not only make him a threat to grab rebounds from the guard position, but also a threat to grab steals. He had 25 steals last season, which was fifth-best on the team. That number is especially impressive considering he was eighth on the team in minutes played.</p>
<p>Quinn is also one of the most fiery defenders on this Aztec team. There are not too many plays where he is not in on the rebound, or just completely harassing the player he is guarding.</p>
<p>What makes Quinn a prime candidate for the point guard position, though, is his ball-protection. He had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (1.35) and had 51 less turnovers than fellow guard/forward <span>Winston Shepard</span>.</p>
<p>The only thing that will keep Quinn off the floor this season will be the lack of minutes to spread out. Minus Xavier Thames, a grey area surrounds the SDSU point guard position, and the battle is coming down to Quinn, sophomore D'Erryl Williams and freshmen Trey Kell and Kevin Zabo.</p>
<p>It seems as though Zabo is the favorite to win the job to begin the season based on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goaztecs.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102114aaa.html">what players and coaches have said</a>about his true point guard ball handling skills, but that does not mean Quinn will get any less playing time than he did last year.</p>
<p>Considering Zabo is a freshman, one can expect an experienced coach like Fisher to handle the young player's minutes the right way. That being said, Quinn will be a valuable asset off the bench that can not only hit 3-pointers, but provide an emotional spark on defense and play a smart brand of basketball.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/24/7048481/san-diego-state-basketball-aqeel-quinn-is-the-trusty-veteran-in-the-point-guard-battleRyan Posner2014-10-23T11:20:05-07:002014-10-23T11:20:05-07:00SDSU hoops player profile: Skylar Spencer
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<figcaption>Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sp</figcaption>
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<p>Skylar Spencer's defense has improved every year of his Aztec career. If his offensive game follows suite, watch out.</p> <p>San Diego State forward <span>Skylar Spencer</span> has enjoyed a fair amount of success in his short time as an Aztec. After seeing significant improvement between his first and second season, fans are anxious to see what he might do with his third.</p>
<p>In his first year, Spencer set a Mountain West record for most shots blocked by a freshman with 51. Last year, he set an SDSU single-season block record with 89. As far as anyone on Montezuma Mesa is concerned, he's the real Sultan of Swat.</p>
<p>Spencer averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds during his 2013-2014 sophomore campaign and led the team with his 56.9 percent shooting from the field. Lag on the offensive side was subsidized with defensive expertise, but this season there will be more opportunities for the 6-foot-10 lefty to assert himself.</p>
<p><span>Scoring and rebounding are two areas of Spencer's game that call for improvement. Although the Aztecs' two leading minute-getters in <span>Xavier Thames</span> and <span>Josh Davis</span> are gone, a deeper bench rotation means that Spencer might only see a three-to-five minute per game jump in playing time. </span><span>His 23.8 minutes per game average last season was fifth highest on the team. </span></p>
<p><span></span><span>The void left by Davis, the Aztecs' leading </span>rebounder, <span>offers Spencer more chances to get involved on the boards. And w</span><span>ithout last year's leading scorer and primary offensive aggressor, Xavier Thames, there should be plenty more shots available, as well. Spencer finished eighth on the team in field goal attempts with 130 and his fourth-best</span><span> 156 rebounds were less than half of the 342 boards hauled in by Davis.</span></p>
<p>Defense is what you can rely on from Spencer. He prides himself on his defensive prowess like most shot blockers do. However, if Spencer has improved his interior scoring capabilities this off-season, he could emerge as one of the scariest two-way players in the conference.</p>
<p>Miss out on Spencer's sophomore season block party? Watch it here.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8UOj5ZNiwck" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Video courtesy of Sean Byrd on YouTube.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/10/23/7044657/san-diego-state-basketball-skylar-spencer-is-the-king-of-the-blockRafael Avitabile