Quinton Watkins may have an impact on San Diego State's basketball program after all.
Watkins, the transfer from Illinois who left SDSU for personal reasons in April before playing a minute, appears to have influenced another member of the Illini to forge a future with the Aztecs.
Brian Carlwell, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center who has spent the past two years at Illinois, said yesterday that he is transferring to SDSU.
Carlwell suffered from concussion-related problems after being involved in a car accident during his freshman season and was limited to three games last year because of a torn medial collateral ligament. It is believed he may be eligible for a medical redshirt season, giving him three years of eligibility at SDSU. He must sit out next season per NCAA transfer rules. It is school policy that SDSU coaches not discuss a transfer athlete until the athlete enrolls officially, which Carlwell will do this fall.
“Quinton told me how great the coaches were and how well he was treated when he decided to go to San Diego State,” said Carlwell, who told Illinois coach Bruce Weber in late February that he was planning to transfer after completion of the spring semester. “Once (Watkins) found out I was going to change schools, he told me how much (SDSU) really needed a 'big' (man). I started getting interested and called (Aztecs assistant coach) Justin Hudson. After that, things just started rolling.”
SDSU, which may have operated at a disadvantage in recent seasons because of its lack of a legitimate big man, will be getting a player who averaged 18.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 5.4 blocks as a senior at Proviso East High School in the Chicago suburb of Maywood. Carlwell was rated the No. 6 prep center in the nation by the scouting service Rivals.com.
“I love screening, because I've found that the easiest way for me to score is to get other people open,” Carlwell said. “But I still love to get out and run. Whatever they ask of me, I think I'll be able to fill that role.”
Carlwell, who says he is 100 percent healthy despite not having surgery for the torn medial collateral ligament, visited SDSU two weeks ago.
“It's a great bunch of guys with a lot of talent,” he said. “I can't wait to get back out there and get started.”
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
