SAN DIEGO – Aguek Arop, one of the most beloved Aztecs on its current roster, has announced that he will return to San Diego State for the 2022-23 school year taking advantage of the NCAA's offer of an additional year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"After carefully assessing my options and in consultation with my family, I've made the decision to return to San Diego State next year. The opportunity to compete as an Aztec for one more year along with being able to continue my education were two of the main factors in my decision. I'm very grateful that the opportunity to play another year is available and that San Diego State allowed me to take my time in this decision."
"I am very happy that Aguek has decided to return to compete for the Aztecs and further his education," Aztec head coach Brian Dutcher said. "AG is a 'program guy' and does all the things that win ball games, but rarely show up in the box score. When he steps on the court, I know he will give the team everything he has, and I'm sure Aztec fans are as excited as I am to have him compete on The Mesa for one more year."
In his four years as an Aztec, SDSU is 97-29 overall, 55-15 in league games, has reached the championship game of the conference tournament four times, won three Mountain West titles (two regular season and one tournament), and appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice, with the 2019-20 team, owning a 30-2 record and a No. 6 ranking after the conference championship game, was predicted to be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament when all NCAA sanctioned sports were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 98 games, he has averaged 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per 40 minutes played, with his rebounds per 40 minutes played being the highest on the team. Arop, the 2016 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior at Omaha (Neb.) South High School, has recorded more offensive than defensive rebounds in 56 games and has grabbed multiple offensive boards in 36 games, which is second among the Aztecs in the last four years.
A 47.0 percent shooter for his career (139-of-296), in 2021-22, Arop equaled career bests with 37 field goals, including three 3-pointers, and set career marks with 39 offensive rebounds and 25 steals. He has committed one or fewer turnovers in 76 of his career games.
Working through multiple physical issues during his time at San Diego State, he returned to action last season playing in 25 games, the most since his freshman campaign.
Among Aztecs with at least 75 field goal attempts, his .457 field goal percentage ranked third on the team last year. Despite playing just 375 minutes, the second fewest on the team among the 10 Aztecs who appeared in at least 25 games, his 3.3 rebounds per game ranked fourth on the team and his 39 offensive boards were the third most despite playing less than half the minutes of the two who grabbed more.
Arop joins Adam Seiko and Matt Bradley, who earlier this year announced their intentions to return in 2022-23 for a team that went 23-9 last year. In 2021-22, San Diego State appeared in the championship game of the Mountain West tournament for the fifth consecutive year and competed in the NCAA tournament for the second straight season. Earlier this month, in each of their way-to-early-top-25, Seth Davis, Andy Katz and Jon Rothstein had the Aztecs ranked No. 22, No. 23 and No. 25 for 2022-23.
In addition to the aforementioned trio, San Diego State is expecting the return of significant contributors Lamont Butler and Keshad Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara as well as newcomers Jaedon LeDee, who sat out the 2021-22 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Darrion Trammel, a transfer from Seattle U., and freshmen Miles Byrd and Elijah Saunders.
-SDSU-