15. San Diego State (5-seed)
Lamont Butler (Senior – Guard)
Infamous for last season’s game-winning shot in the Final Four, Butler keeps producing for the Aztecs in his fourth season. Butler averaged 9.4 points and 2.9 assists per game but was certainly more revered on defense, earning MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a result. He’s produced at every stage of the season, is among the MWC’s leaders in steals, and scored 15 points against UAB in the Aztecs’ first round Tourney win.
Jaedon LeDee (Senior – Forward)
LeDee was a backup player at Ohio State and TCU before arriving at San Diego State two seasons ago, contributing to last season’s title run. This season has been completely different, as he’s exploded onto the scene, averaging 21.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. LeDee has been the best offensive weapon in the MWC and was named an All-American, sometimes single-handedly helming the Aztecs on offense. He dropped 32 points on UAB before scoring 26 against Yale on Sunday, just his latest standout effort.
Jay Pal (Senior – Guard)
An offseason addition for the Aztecs, Pal spent time at Clarendon College, Jacksonville State, and Campbell before opting to spend his final year in San Diego. The numbers aren’t overwhelming, as he averages just 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, but Pal makes an impact in this lineup on both sides of the ball. He hasn’t produced much in the Big Dance to this point but he’s a solid shot blocker and a key weapon on a balanced Aztecs lineup.
Micah Parrish (Senior – Forward)
His numbers may not match what he did as an underclassman at Oakland, but Parrish has found a steady role these last two seasons at San Diego State. As a senior he’s averaging 9.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, though his shooting numbers have taken a slight step back. Parrish plays strong defensive minutes for the Aztecs and has had a few nice performances this season, though nobody’s expecting him to go out and drop 20 points a night.
Darrion Trammell (Senior – Guard)
One of last year’s dynamic additions, Trammell was a point guard at Seattle who put up impressive offensive numbers before heading to San Diego State. His final collegiate season has seen him average 7.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, with decent shooting clips from all over the floor. He’s another playmaker who gets the job done on both sides of the court and doesn’t necessarily need to score in bunches, though he did drop 18 points against Yale in the second round of the Tournament.