San Diego State Basketball: 2020-21 depth chart preview for Aztecs

By Tim Edmonds | Sep 5, 2020

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Head coach Brian Dutcher of the San Diego State Aztecs reacts to a call during a quarterfinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the Air Force Falcons at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 5, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. San Diego State won 73-60. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 06: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /

Power Forward

Starter: Matt Mitchell

Thrown into the starting lineup last season following Nathan Mensah’s season-ending battle with blood clots, Mitchell stepped up big time for the Aztecs in 2019-20 to their best season in program history.

A key scorer off the bench and in the starting lineup, Mitchell helped the Aztecs effectively spread the floor with 12.2 points per game and also knocked down 39.3 percent of his three-point attempts. Standing 6’6 at the four-spot, Mitchell is somewhat undersized and will need to improve on the glass after posting just 4.8 rebounds a contest last season.

Backup: Aguek Arop

Thin at the power forward position and down low overall, the Aztecs next best option on the bench is junior forward Aguek Arop. Playing sparingly his first two seasons in San Diego, Arop is expected to assume the role Mitchell held early on last season and could see 15-20 minutes a night if things break his way.

Playing just 228 minutes last season, Arop’s overall numbers don’t jump off the page with 3 points and 2.2 rebounds a game last year on a loaded roster, however a lack of depth could give him a chance to make an impact next season especially if Mensah isn’t fully cleared to return to play.