Fuller Begins Task of Building Program Into a Winner : College basketball: New San Diego State coach says he needs help in just about every department as he begins to recruit new players.

A simple, unspoken plea has emanated from deep within the San Diego State basketball program almost since the season started in November.

Help!

Today is the day the Aztecs have been waiting for. It is the first day universities can sign high school and community college players to national letters of intent.

Since hiring new Coach Tony Fuller, the Aztecs have said they will probably play their home games in Peterson Gym next year and they have slapped a new coat of paint on the basketball offices.

But what they need are players .

Not that they expect to sign players today who will immediately turn the program around. The signing period drags out over the next month and, with but two precious scholarships to give, Fuller said it is possible SDSU won’t announce any signings for several days.

Besides, for a team that finished 2-26--the worst record in school history--the question is, where do you begin?

That’s Fuller’s job and it is clear where the Aztecs need help.

Just about everywhere.

“I really like quickness,” Fuller said. “Shooting ability, with as much size as possible.”

Shooting is a good starting point. The Aztecs of 1991-92 shot only 41% from the field and only 61% from the free-throw line.

The Aztecs are also targeting as many guards as possible. They signed two in the early signing period in November--Jason Hamilton, a point guard from Hazen High in Renton, Wash., and Deon Taylor, an off guard from Floren High in Sacramento. Fuller said that, despite the coaching change, both will attend SDSU.

But the Aztecs can use more. Their guards had only 333 assists last season as compared to 453 turnovers, an unacceptable ratio even for a middle-of-the-pack Western Athletic Conference team.

Getting back to shooting, the best in the backcourt was Virgil Smith, who made only 34% of his field-goal attempts.

Furthermore, the best returning SDSU players--Joe McNaull, Courtie Miller, Keith Balzer and Tony Clark--are forward types. Only Clark has played in the backcourt.

The Aztecs have been scouting both community college and high school-level players. Assistant Coach Jim Harrick traveled to the national community college championship tournament in Kansas in March, and he and Fuller have been taking notes on California players as well.

“Initially, we have to take care of Southern California,” Fuller said. “Primarily the San Diego area, and then on up to Orange County and Los Angeles.”

Fuller preferred not to get specific when asked about the biggest problem areas on the team.

“More than anything, I guess maybe intensity, a sense of pride,” Fuller said. “Pride in performance. Pride in their effort.

“We’re looking for people we think are good players and good students. Good guys.

As for the expected move to Peterson Gym next season--which will save SDSU between $12,000 and $14,000 in Sports Arena rent--Fuller said it is a decision he supports.

“I think it gives us a home court,” Fuller said. “It’s small, it can be cozy. We can play where we practice.”

Fuller also has yet to fill his coaching staff. He needs to add one more full-time assistant and a part-time assistant. The Aztecs also had a volunteer assistant last season--former UCLA equipment manager Steve Harris--but, because of a new NCAA rule, each Division I university is forced to trim one coach from its staff by August.

“I’m not even thinking about (the coaching staff),” Fuller said. “Right now, we’re just trying to finish up recruiting.”