Nov. 14, 2008

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's basketball recruiting class of 2009 has been ranked No. 15 in the nation and No. 1 among non-BCS schools by The HOOP SCOOP Online in their exclusive rankings released earlier this week.

The Aztecs signed five players during the early signing period which began on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The incoming players who will be eligible in 2009-10, include Eric Lawton (Hemet, Calif./West Valley HS), Kawhi Leonard (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King HS), Chase Tapley (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento HS), Malcolm Thomas (San Diego, Calif./San Diego City College) and Alec Williams (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./ JSerra Catholic HS).

Additionally, Paul Biancardi of ESPN.com says that San Diego State was one of the non-BCS schools that made the most noise in the early signing period.

"Consistently and quietly, Steve Fisher keeps bringing talent to the Aztecs," Biancardi said. "His four-man class is led by wing Kawhi Leonard, who is a tough player and gifted scorer."

Also included in the 2009 incoming class are a pair of Division I transfers in Tyrone Shelley (Pepperdine) and Brian Carlwell (Illinois), who are currently sitting out the 2008-09 campaign due to NCAA transfer guidelines. If HOOP SCOOP were to include transfers in their rankings, which would then include 6-10 Carlwell and 6-5 Shelley, the Aztecs would have had a top-five nationally ranked recruiting class.