April 15, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Sophomores Jer'Vaughn Johnson and Jon Pastorek have decided to leave the San Diego State men's basketball team and freshman Quinton Watkins will not return to the program next season, Aztec head coach Steve Fisher announced Tuesday.
"We are sad to see Jon and Jer'Vaughn leave, but wish them well in their future athletic careers," Fisher said. "We appreciate the contributions both players have made. They leave the University in good academic standing and we look forward to following the continuation of their college basketball careers."
Johnson, a 6-6, 240-pound forward from Compton, Calif., had career numbers of 1.8 points on 53.5 percent shooting and 1.6 rebounds in 54 games during his two-year SDSU career. This past season, Johnson averaged 0.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 23 ballgames.
A 6-10, 210-pound forward out of Anaheim, Calif., Pastorek averaged 1.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and shot 49.2 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the free throw line in 50 career games. As a sophomore, he averaged 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 26 games.
Watkins, a mid-year transfer who enrolled at San Diego State at the beginning of SDSU's second semester, left the university in late February for family reasons. The 6-3, 175-pound Watkins had four years of eligibility remaining when he enrolled at San Diego State and practiced with the team upon arriving on campus, but never suited up for a game on The Mesa.
Even with the departures, the Aztecs return three all-conference honorees in Lorrenzo Wade, Ryan Amoroso and Billy White. The Aztecs also return three other letterwinners off last season's third consecutive 20-win team and rising sophomore Tim Shelton, who was sidelined after playing just four games with knee surgery.