SAN DIEGO – San Diego State head men's basketball coach Brian Dutcher announced today that point guard Malachi Flynn will forego his final year of college eligibility and will enter professional basketball. Flynn, who in his lone season on The Mesa, led the Aztecs to a 30-2 record, the regular-season Mountain West Conference title, the No. 6 ranking in the nation, and is in the process of hiring an agent, ending his college career.
"Each of us who is affiliated with the San Diego State men's basketball family are immensely proud of Malachi and everything he has accomplished in his two years in our program," Dutcher said. "When he arrived on campus, we knew he was a uniquely talented basketball player. What we quickly learned was that he had an intense work ethic and a team-first mentality which endeared him to his teammates and the community.
"I congratulate Malachi on all of his successes and along with his family, highly endorse his decision to enter the next phase of his life. Like all San Diego State fans, I look forward to watching him enjoy a long and prosperous career at the next level."
"After receiving feedback from NBA teams and thoughtful discussions with my family and Coach Dutcher, I have decided to forego by senior season and declared myself eligible for the NBA Draft," Flynn said. "I have immensely enjoyed my two years at San Diego State and the bond that has been forged with my teammates during this magical season will never be broken. I am grateful to my teammates, the coaching staff, and the University for helping me become the basketball player and man I am today. I look forward to watching with pride the success of this program for years to come.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support from Aztec Nation. I will never forget the way the San Diego community and The Show embraced me when I made the decision to transfer to San Diego State and the support our team received during this incredible season. I am proud to say I am an Aztec For Life. Thank you, San Diego."
Following two years at Washington State and sitting out the 2018-19 season after transferring to San Diego State, the Tacoma, Wash., native became the most decorated Aztec in a single season. After being named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), United States Basketball Writers of America (USBWA) and The Sporting News, the junior joined Hall of Famers Michael Cage and Kawhi Leonard as the third consensus All-American in program history. In addition, he garnered second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports, NBC Sports and The Athletic and first-team distinction from Sports Illustrated and STADIUM.
In 32 games in 2019-20, all starts, Flynn averaged 17.6 points (on 44.1 percent shooting, including 37.3 percent from the bonus distance, and 85.7 from the free throw line), 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game. He added 56 steals and three blocks in 1,072 total minutes on the floor. An NABC first-team All-District 17 performer, he reached double figures 31 times and in the lone game in which he was in single digits, he scored nine points. The Most Valuable Player of both the Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational and Basketball Hall of Fame Classic totaled at least 15 points 22 times, at least 20 points nine times and at least 30 points once. Flynn led the team in scoring 21 times, in assists 21 times and rebounds four times.
The second Aztec to be named to the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year, Naismith National Player of the Year and Lute Olson National Player of the Year Awards, Flynn was the 2019-20 Mountain West Player of the Year and a first-team All-Mountain West performer in both the coaches and media polls. He earned the coaches poll Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and the media poll Mountain West Newcomer of the Year, in addition to twice being named Mountain West Player of the Week.
Among Mountain West performers, Flynn ranked first in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio and steals, third in scoring and free throw percentage, fifth in field goal percentage and three-point field goals and eighth in minutes. Nationally was 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 43rd in free throw percentage and assists, 48th in steals, 50th in assists per game, 76th in points, 79th in steals per game, 93rd in points per game, 94th in three-point field goal attempts, 95th in three-point field goals, 110th in field goal attempts, 115th in three-point field goals per game, 130th in field goals, 136th in free throws made, 138 in minutes, 182nd in field goal percentage, 219th in minutes, 220th in free throw attempts.