Jerome Habel was 14 when he met Walter Ray back in Maryland, when he happened across an organization called Education, Goals, Opportunities and Sports. It offered Habel some direction on and off the basketball court. It gave him a path to take.
Yesterday, that voyage continued with Habel signing a letter of intent with San Diego State.
In officially joining Steve Fisher's basketball program, the No. 2-ranked junior college player nationally by JUCOjunction.com immediately filled the large gap left when leading rebounder Marcus Slaughter forfeited his final season of eligibility by applying for the NBA draft a second time.
The 6-foot-10 Habel averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for San Bernardino Valley College this season, earning All-Foothill Conference honors. He was a Top 100 recruit nationally out of Walt Whitman (Md.) High who originally signed with Florida State but did not qualify academically and never played for the Seminoles.
“Coach Fisher and (assistant) Coach (Mark) Hughes and the whole staff are trustworthy people who care about their players,” said Habel. “I wanted to play for men like that. (Slaughter) was a good player. I have big shoes to fill. I have my work cut out for me. But this is an opportunity – to step in and play right away for a Division I school – I have waited for.”
Said Ray, nephew of former Celtics great Sam Jones: “(Jerome) is a laid-back, happy-go-lucky kid who is beyond his years in wisdom. I've known about (Fisher) for a long time, known his track record. We're basically passing off the baton to him and his staff with the utmost faith Jerome will continue developing as a person and player.”
Slaughter isn't the only post player SDSU loses. Trimaine Davis and Mohamed Camara also have departed, meaning had the Aztecs not signed a player with Habel's size, they could have started the smallest lineup in the Mountain West Conference next to Air Force.
“Jerome will be an inside presence for us,” said Fisher. “It's a nice feeling to know we have another player with size. One of the things that impressed me most about him is a feel for the game. He knows how to play. He's long, athletic and experienced. He's thin (a listed 220 pounds), but can more than hold his own.”
Should guard Brandon Heath – the league's Player of the Year – decide to withdraw from the NBA draft and play his senior season, SDSU would return four starters (including a second Player of the Year candidate in Mohamed Abukar) while adding Habel, Louisville transfer Lorrenzo Wade and high school recruits Kashif Watson, Jervaughn Johnson and Jon Pastorek.
Watson and Johnson are expected to compete for immediate playing time next season, when the Aztecs will defend league regular-season and tournament titles.
“Getting a guy of Jerome's caliber helps fill the void that (Slaughter) leaves,” said Hughes, who led the recruiting efforts on Habel. “Jerome is very, very skilled. He blocks shots, rebounds, runs the floor, can step out and make shots. You don't become the No. 2-ranked JUCO player in the nation and not be very good. He's going to have to come in and earn minutes like everyone, but I'll be very surprised if he doesn't start right away and play 30-plus minutes. He's that good.”
Said ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz: “I think it was a must for the Aztecs to get a significant contributor (such as Habel) to stay on top of the conference. They have captivated what was a lax basketball fan base and can't afford to lose them by taking a step back. The Mountain West (title) is ripe for the taking in the foreseeable future. Whether or not (the Aztecs) can quickly jump (into the Top 25) next season will depend on who they play in the nonconference and who they beat.”
Ed Graney: (619) 293-2203; ed.graney@uniontrib.com
