Aztecs, Toreros Each Get a Point Guard

San Diego State and the University of San Diego each added a point guard to their men’s basketball rosters Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period for national letters of intent.

But while SDSU apparently filled an immediate need, receiving an oral commitment from Texas high school standout Robert Ringo, USD will have to wait a year for Fresno State transfer Doug Harris to play in a game.

Under NCAA rules, transfers from one Division I school to another must sit out one year before participating.

“I think the coaches (at USD) are going to be fair with me and give me a chance,” said Harris, the 1989-90 Arizona player of the year his senior year at Corona del Sol High in Tempe. “I don’t think I was given much of a chance (at Fresno State).

“I don’t think (Coach Gary Kolson and his staff) were honest with me throughout the whole year. When I wasn’t playing, at times I would ask why I wasn’t, and they couldn’t tell me. All I ask for is a chance.”

Off the bench, Harris, 6-feet, averaged 3.7 points, 2.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 28 games for the Bulldogs. His season high for points was 13 against Utah State, but his best game came in the Bulldogs’ upset of 11th-ranked New Mexico State in the Big West Tournament. In that one, Harris had 10 points on eight-of-eight free-throw shooting and added five rebounds.

By then, Harris said, he already had his sights set on USD. Harris said he and USD assistant coach Randy Bennett, who handles the recruiting for Torero Coach Hank Egan, had developed a relationship when Bennett was recruiting Harris in high school.

“I was thinking about transferring to USD all year because I’ve known Coach Bennett for a long time,” Harris said.

Being from Arizona, Harris is familiar with a number of present and past Toreros.

He played against Torero guard Neal Meyer in high school and former guard Pat Holbert in summer leagues. Harris said he is also familiar with USD’s Michael Brown and Reed Watson, two former Mesa (Ariz.) Community College players.

At Corona del Sol, Harris averaged a league-leading 24.7 points and seven assists per game and led his team to a second consecutive state championship game. Corona del Sol won a state title his junior year and was the runner-up his senior year.

“I’m not saying I’ve got something to prove,” Harris said. “But I want to.”

USD, whose top priority would seem to be a center, is expected to sign at least two more players during the signing period. The Toreros, who finished 17-12, had six seniors this year.

Robert Ringo is a 6-foot-2 point guard from Duncanville (Tex.) High School.

Ringo, who played on a team that won the Texas 5-A state championship, averaged 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds a game as a senior.

“He’s quick, can handle the ball, is the best defensive player I’ve ever had and can shoot the three-pointer,” Duncanville Coach Bill McNeely said. “He’s an unselfish player.”

Ringo, who was also recruited seriously by Baylor, Southern Methodist and Midwestern State (Tex.), planned to sign a national letter-of-intent today, McNeely said.

The Aztecs hope to sign at least one more player, and maybe two, during the next week or two. They are targeting a guard and a big man. Part of last season’s 13-16 record can be attributed to a lack of outside shooting. Also, next year’s team will be without 7-0 center Marty Dow, who has finished his eligibility.

Vicki de Jesus of Mt. Carmel High signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for the USD women’s team.

De Jesus, a two-time All-County selection by The Times, averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Mt. Carmel, which lost to Poway in the 1991 San Diego Section Division I championship. De Jesus averaged 17 points per game her junior year when Mt. Carmel won the Division I title.

Mt. Carmel Coach Tracy Johnson said the 5-9 de Jesus could play guard or forward in college.

“It will be interesting to see how they develop her,” Johnson said. “I know whatever she will do, she will do with a smile on her face. She’s not one of those players that had to score 20 points to be happy. She’s only interested in winning games.”

De Jesus, who played with USD senior forward Lynda Jones at Mt. Carmel, said she has been leaning toward USD for some time.

“I’ve been to a couple of their summer camps and know their coach (Kathy Marpe) pretty well. I’ve wanted to go there for a long time.”

De Jesus said she chose USD over Santa Clara and San Francisco.