April 14, 2017
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State men's basketball head coach Brian Dutcher announced today that forward Zylan Cheatham has decided to leave the program and pursue basketball opportunities at another school. Cheatham spent three seasons on Montezuma Mesa and recently completed his redshirt sophomore campaign.
"As soon as the season ended, Steve Fisher and I met with Zylan, as we did with all of our players," Dutcher said. "He expressed a desire to explore other options and look to transfer from San Diego State. We appreciate all Zylan has brought to this university, both in the classroom, as he is a very good student, and on the basketball court, for his contributions to the success of the program. We wish him well in his pursuit at another university."
"I want to thank everyone at the University for giving me the opportunity to play Division I basketball," Cheatham said. "I appreciate the support the coaching staff and team has shown me during my time at San Diego State and in helping me along my process of going from a boy to a man. The relationships I have made will be life-lasting. I appreciate the support that the San Diego community has shown me."
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Cheatham arrived on campus ahead of the 2014-15 season. A foot injury suffered prior to his arrival sidelined him and he utilized his redshirt year before suiting up for the first time in 2015-16.
As a redshirt freshman, Cheatham averaged 7.9 points on 52.8 percent shooting and 5.4 rebounds, while adding 36 assists, 26 blocked shots and 22 steals in 38 games (26 starts). He had 10 double-figure scoring games, six double-digit rebounding efforts and two double-doubles while helping the Aztecs win the 2015-16 Mountain West regular-season title and reach the semifinals of the NIT.
Last season, Cheatham averaged 9.1 points, while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, and a team-best 6.3 rebounds to go with 43 assists, 18 blocked shots and 33 steals in 31 games (22 starts). The redshirt sophomore helped San Diego State win the 2016 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic where he averaged 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds en route to earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Cheatham scored in double figures 11 times, had three double-digit rebounding performances and produced three double-doubles.
For his 69-game career, which included 48 starting assignments, Cheatham averaged 8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.0 minutes. He shot 52.4 percent from the field, including 17.2 percent from three-point range, and 73.4 percent from the free-throw line. Cheatham also added 44 blocked shots and 55 steals during his time on The Mesa.