Aztecs’ big man Miles Heide enters transfer portal

Early afternoon on the last day before the transfer portal officially opens, Miles Heide announced via his agency that he plans on entering the portal. The San Diego State Aztecs now have eight scholarship players from last year’s team moving on. Heide was a starter for the majority of the year, but he did not progress like the coaching staff expected.

Heide does not look to be the lone big man entering the portal for the Aztecs today. Per Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Pharaoh Compton is expected to enter the portal as well, though this is not official yet. Leaving the Aztecs will only have two scholarship big men on the roster, Thokbor Majak and Tae Simmons.

Entering this past season, Dutcher said Heide and Compton were battling for the starting center spot, with it ultimately going to Heide. Compton played a singular game without Heide, that being the MW Championship game. The athletic center from Las Vegas only played nine minutes against the Aggies, which could have been a key factor in his departure.

After BJ Davis entered the portal, Aztec fans were wondering if the players were going to return in bunches or rush the gates to find a new home. It seems to be the ladder for San Diego State, which is going to pose a good amount of challenges for the Aztecs’ coaching staff. A part of the reason why the Aztecs missed the tournament last year was due to the transfers, Jeremiah Oden and Sean Newman Jr, not performing at the level as initially expected. Although Newman Jr.’s play did elevate toward the end of the season.

The coaching staff is now tasked with bringing in at least five rotational key pieces into the program. The good news for the staff and even Aztecs fans is this: Just because they enter the portal, it does not mean the players are 100% gone. Exhibit A: Magoon Gwath last offseason.

Last year, the expectation was that Gwath was going to leave the Mesa. As it turned out, Gwath decided to return for a second year. This will always remain a possibility in the NIL era of college sports. Entering the transfer portal is similar to a pro player declining his player option in his contract.

If the Aztecs are to lose Gwath, Heide, and Compton to the portal, amid one of them deciding to return, then one thing is for sure: Dutcher will be looking for a big man. That is a big man who rebounds and does it at a ferocious and elite level. The Aztecs desperately needed a Nathan Mensah or Aguek Arop-level rebounder and defender last season. The hope amongst Aztecs fans is that Dutcher and Co. do just that.

Bryant Thursby

Bryant is an Assistant Coach at Heritage High School. He is a big-time SDSU fanatic and a Padres fan.