April 29, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's basketball team signed Samuel Eze (pronounced is-ZAY), a 6-10, 210-pound center from Abuja, Nigeria, to a national letter-of-intent on Monday.
Eze, who graduated from the University of Abuja this year, will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2002-03 season. Aztec head coach Steve Fisher was out of town and was unavailable for comment, but assistant coach Marvin Menzies said he was impressed with the signee's athletic ability.
"He has got a lot to learn, but he has a lot to work with," Menzies said. "He has a good aggressive offensive style on the blocks with impressive jumping ability and good lateral movement."
Eze becomes the fourth player to sign with San Diego State for the 2002-03 season. Brandon Heath, a 6-2, 170-pound guard from Los Angeles signed during the early period. Earlier this month, 6-6, 195-pound guard Travis Hanour and 6-11, 225-pound center Chris Manker, both of Laguna Beach, Calif., inked with the Aztecs.
San Diego State is coming off a 21-12 season and the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 17 seasons. Fisher, who recently completed his third season with the Aztecs, guided SDSU to the 2002 Mountain West Conference Championship. San Diego State will return six letterwinners off the 2001-02 squad.
2002-03 SDSU Men's Basketball Alphabetical Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp. Hometown (High School/Previous School)4 Tony Bland G 6-5 192 Sr. 1L Los Angeles, Calif. (Westchester High/Syracuse Univ.)20 Trimaine Davis F 6-7 212 Fr. RS Bay Point, Calif. (Pittsburg High) Samuel Eze C 6-10 210 Fr. HS Abuja, Nigeria (Univ. of Abuja) Travis Hanour ^ G 6-6 195 So. TR Laguna Beach, Calif. (Laguna Beach High/Univ. of Arizona) Brandon Heath G 6-2 170 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (Westchester High)0 Tommy Johnson G 6-4 184 So. 1L Los Angeles, Calif. (Crenshaw High)30 Mike Mackell C 6-9 241 Sr. 1L Washington D.C. (Eastern High/Porterville JC) Chris Manker ^ C 6-11 225 So. TR Laguna Beach, Calif. (Laguna Beach High/Oregon State Univ.)1 Deandre Moore G 5-10 195 Sr. 2L Compton, Calif. (Compton High/Vanderbilt Univ.)34 Aerick Sanders F 6-8 198 Jr. 2L Carson, Calif. (Gardena Serra High)21 Steve Sir G 6-6 192 Fr. RS Minnetonka, Minn. (Cretin Derham Hall High)31 Andre Torres * G 5-9 170 Jr. SQ Chula Vista, Calif. (Eastlake High)3 Chris Walton F 6-9 228 Jr. 2L San Diego, Calif. (Univ. of San Diego High)32 Ben Wardrop * G 6-2 185 Jr. SQ Anaheim, Calif. (Loara High)40 Markee White * F 6-7 184 Fr. RS Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly High)
Year refers to basketball eligibility for the 2002-03 season* - Indicates Walk-on^ - Eligible for competition in December, 2002