SAN DIEGO – Senior guards Matt Bradley and Adam Seiko have announced they will not participate in senior ceremonies on Thursday evening and intend to return to San Diego State for the 2022-23 school year and compete for the Aztec men's basketball program, taking advantage of the NCAA's offer of an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The duo has been instrumental in the Aztecs posting a 19-7 record, 11-4 in Mountain West play in 2021-22, after Monday night's 73-66 victory at Wyoming.
"I'm excited to make this announcement today, so I can concentrate on competing in tournament play throughout March with my team," Bradley said. "Basketball has always been a tool in my life to get me in contact with many amazing people and amazing opportunities, one of those opportunities being receiving a college degree. Being Black with higher education is important in America. And I plan on fulfilling my lifelong dream of graduating.
"Another big influence on my decision is the love I have for San Diego State, our program and the fans. The support we get is incredible. This has been the most fun I have had playing basketball and I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else next year. I want to thank my family, Coach Dutcher, the entire staff, my team and everyone involved with the men's basketball program for a great year so far and trust me there is more fun to come."
A starter in all 26 games this season, Bradley is averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals in 31.2 minutes per game. He has shot 45.0 percent (156-of-347) from the field, 42.7 percent (50-of-117) from beyond the arc and 78.0 percent (85-of-109) from the line through Monday's win.
He leads the Aztecs in points per game, field goals, field goal attempts, 3-point field goals, 3-point field goal attempts, free throws, free throw attempts and ranks second in rebounds (131), defensive rebounds (112), rebounds per game, assists (72), and steals (30).
The San Bernardino, Calif. native, has reached double digit scoring 22 times this season and in those games the Aztecs are 18-4 and when he scores 15 or more points, the team is 12-2. He has led San Diego State in scoring 15 times (12-3), in rebounds 4 times (3-1) and in assists 12 times (8-4).
Bradley was named the 2021-22 Preseason Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and was the league's Player of the Week for the week ending on Jan. 9, 2022. He was included on the preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award, which is given to the "Outstanding College Basketball Player in the United States", the Naismith Trophy for the College Player of the Year and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year.
"I want to thank my family for all the support they have given me," Seiko said. "Also want to thank my coaches, the entire basketball staff and everyone in the Athletics Department for five wonderful years. I have had a great experience and look forward to finishing my master's degree and continuing to be a part of something very special, Aztec basketball. I love this school, our fans and the city and wouldn't want to play anywhere else."
Seiko ranks No. 13 on the program's career 3-point field goal percentage list making 37.4 percent (91-of-243) of his attempts and 77.1 percent (91-of-118) of his converted buckets are from the bonus distance. He is tied for fifth place on the career conference win list with 49 through the team's Monday win at Wyoming.
The Boston native has been in the program since the 2017-18 season, which he took as a redshirt, and has been one of the team's best on ball defenders in each of the last three seasons as well as in 2021-22.
Earlier this year, over the course of three games, Seiko hit 10 consecutive 3-point field goals. In available information, it is the longest consecutive successful 3-point field goal streak since the 2018-19 season, when Virginia's Kyle Guy made 11 in a row. In addition, earlier this season his 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc vs. Saint Mary's marked the ninth time in the Dutcher/Fisher era that an SDSU player has been perfect from three-point range, minimum four attempts, in a game.
So far, in 2021-22, he has set career bests in multiple statistical categories, including field goals, 3-point field goals and has moved up to a tie for No. 11 on the career victories list with 86 in his three-plus seasons competing on the Mesa.
San Diego State will honor seniors Aguek Arop, Tahirou Diabate, Nathan Mensah, Trey Pulliam and Joshua Tomaic in a ceremony prior to Thursday's game against Fresno State. Tipoff at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. For tickets go to https://bit.ly/SDSUvFSMBBTix.
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