Three Basketball Players Commit to SDSU

Jim Brandenburg, San Diego State basketball coach, announced the signings of three community college players. All three will be juniors next season.

James Lewis, a 6-foot-2 guard from Colorado Northwestern Community College, Mike Ferguson, a 6-7 swingman from McLennan Community College in Waco, Tex., and Keith Balzer, a 6-8 forward from Imperial Valley Community College have all committed to SDSU.

They join Joe McNaull of Monte Vista High School, who committed during the early signing period last November.

“We think, overall, we had a good recruiting year,” Brandenburg said. “Especially when you put Joe McNaull in the mix.”

McNaull scored seven points in 11 minutes during the McDonald’s high school all-star game in Tucson, Ariz., last weekend.

Balzer averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game last season. He visited the University of Washington, Pepperdine, Colorado State and South Florida before deciding to commit to SDSU.

“We think Balzer is going to get bigger and stronger,” Brandenburg said. Ferguson averaged 11 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season. Beside SDSU, he visited the University of Alabama Birmingham.

“Ferguson has the ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter, and he is a very good defensive player,” Brandenburg said.

Lewis, meanwhile, averaged 26.1 points a games last season and 19.5 during his freshman year. He was a national small college All-American.