In an Unpleasant Surprise, Aztecs Lose Forward Recruit

It was the case of the one that got away for San Diego State basketball coach Jim Brandenburg as the spring signing period opened Wednesday morning with Brandenburg in Tennessee expecting to land a much-traveled community college forward.

But when Brandenburg showed up to sign Ray Richardson, a 6-foot 6-inch forward at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn., he learned that Richardson already had signed with Nebraska.

“We were all shocked,” said Kevin McLeod, SDSU assistant coach.

While the Aztecs were caught off-guard at the last moment, University of San Diego Coach Hank Egan improved his backcourt by signing two guards to letters of intent.

The school announced that Gylan Dottin (6-5, 200 pounds) from Saddleback High School in Santa Ana, and Wayman Strickland (5-11, 175) from Riordon High School in San Francisco, have signed letters to attend USD this fall.

U.S. International also helped itself with the signing of five players, including Morse High School guard Willie Davis, Coach Gary Zarecky said.

Wednesday was the first day since November that high school and community college basketball players were able to sign letters of intent for next season.

SDSU had expected to bolster a weakness at small forward with the signing of Richardson. But his change of heart even surprised Hiwassee Coach Hugh Durham.

“He has been saying all along he was going to San Diego State,” Durham said. “I’m as upset about this as anyone.”

Durham said Nebraska Coach Danny Nee was waiting at his office when he arrived Wednesday morning with Brandenburg and told him that Richardson had signed with him. Richardson averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists at Hiwassee.

Brandenburg, Nee and Richardson were not available for comment.

The loss of Richardson leaves the Aztecs with four scholarships available. One of those is expected to be awarded to Rodney Jones, a 6-1 guard from Panola Junior College in Carthage, Tex. Jones said Tuesday he has made an oral commitment to attend SDSU. Jones averaged 11.7 points and 6 assists a game at Panola.

SDSU previously signed two players--guard Kevin Rembert of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana and forward Alex Sund of Golden (Colo.) High School--in November. The Aztecs also have three transfer players--guard Michael Best from Clemson, guard Chris Singleton from Delgado Vocational Technical Junior College in New Orleans and guard Shawn Bell from Chicago State and Morse High School--who will be eligible next season.

Dottin, USD’s latest recruit, averaged 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists while leading Saddleback to the Sea View League championship. He was a Times All-Orange County player. Strickland, who averaged 19 points a game, helped lead Riordon to the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Playoffs.

USD had received November commitments from forwards Kelvin Woods of Damien High School in Pomona, Carlos Carrillo of Bosco Tech High School and Al Lewis of Fullerton High School. USD also signed guard Anthony Thomas, a 6-3 transfer from Mesa (Ariz.) College, in November.

USIU announced that it had signed Aljenoid Banks of Los Angeles Crenshaw High School, Greg Howard from Athens, Ga., and Palomar Community College’s Gary Williams and Jake Hodges. Banks, Howard and Williams are forwards, and Davis and Hodges are point guards.