With Malik Pope opting to return to school, the Aztecs retain one of the premier players in the conference talent-wise.
Pope, the 55th overall player from 2014 ESPN class, was expected to jump straight to the pros following his freshman season but he struggled to display his worth to various NBA scouts and coaches. Although Pope averaged 2.2 more points per game as a sophomore, he still has yet to truly maximize his potential in an SDSU uniform.
Offensive efficiency rating, box plus/minus, and field goal percentage all took a notable dip from Pope’s freshman to sophomore season.