Nov. 10, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State head basketball coach Steve Fisher announced the signing of four players - Brett Hoerner, Kyle Spain, Kashif Watson and Jabbar Young - to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. All four players, three from the high school ranks, and one from junior college, have been ranked among the top 125 players nationally in their respective classes.
"We are excited about signing four quality players, whom I would be disappointed if we did not see on the court at the same time," Fisher said. "This group has size, athleticism, good shooting range and they know how to play the game."
Hoerner, a 6-11, 200-pound forward, is a senior at Fullerton High in Fullerton, Calif. He averaged 16.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and recorded 112 block shots for a team that went 20-7 last season. Hoerner is ranked among the top 100 recruits in his class by six different scouting services, including Hoop Alliance, which ranks him 51st. He is ranked as the 20th best power forward in the country by ScoutHoops.com and is a member of Street & Smith's High Honorable Mention All-America team.
"Brett gives us a unique blend of size and athleticism," Fisher said. "He has the ability to run the floor, possesses good hands and is a tremendous shot blocker who can also step out and hit the perimeter jumper. When he develops added size to his frame, he will have a wonderful up side."
Spain, a 6-6, 205-pound forward, is a senior at Newark Memorial High in Newark, Calif. He averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and shot 70.4 percent from the free throw line as a junior. His team went 29-5 and played for the CIF Division I championship in 2003-04. Spain recorded three 30-point scoring games and posted eight double-doubles as a junior. He is one of just five players named to the Street & Smith's San Francisco-Oakland all-Metro team. He was rated as the 42nd best player nationally by Hoop Scoop's Clark Francis and was selected as the fourth best prospect in the state by the same service.
"Kyle is mature both physically and mentally," Fisher said. "He is a scorer, both outside and inside. He brings the kind of confidence to a team that is infectious. He suffered through stress reactions which kept him sidelined during the spring and summer but he is an outstanding player and prospect."
Watson, a 6-3, 180-pound guard, is a senior at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas. He averaged 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for a playoff team that went 21-7 last season. This season, his prep team is ranked among the top 25 nationally by two publications. He is ranked as the second best shooting guard on the West coast and among the top 35 players at the two-guard position nationally by Rivals.com. He was named to Street & Smith's High Honorable Mention All-America team. His brother, C.J., is a starting guard at Tennessee.
"Kashif is the most athletic of the four players," Fisher said. "He has the potential to be a great defender and has the ability to score outside and as a slasher. He is a great competitor and a proven winner who has been tutored well on the basketball court by his older brother."
Young, a 6-11, 285-pound center, is in his second season at San Bernardino College. He will have two seasons remaining when he joins the Aztecs in 2005-06. Young was listed as the 20th-best center in the class of 2002 by ESPN.com. He was also listed as one of 20 players to watch in the state of Maryland by USA Today while he was at National Christian Academy (Md.). Young attended classes at San Diego State in the Spring of 2003.
"Jabbar has lost weight and added strength and conditioning at San Bernardino College," Fisher said. "He is a skilled basketball player who has more than just his size as a weapon. We look forward to welcoming him back to San Diego State. He has had his heart set on attending school here and we are excited to see his dream become a reality."
Fisher indicated that San Diego State would not sign any more players during the early signing period.
"Our ability to attract quality players during the early signing period as opposed to waiting to the late period is significant," Fisher said. "All four student-athletes are very highly regarded. Signing four players early allows us the luxury to not be 100 percent focused on this year's recruiting class and allows us to heavily recruit the sophomore and junior classes."