Thursday early evening the Aztecs secured the largest missing piece to their 2024-2025 puzzle of a basketball roster. It’s a piece they’ve been trying to hold down since 2018.

“I was pretty aware of SDSU back when I came out of high school actually.” says Jared Coleman-Jones, the Super-Senior big man transfer out of Middle Tennessee State.

The 6’10” 245 lb Coleman-Jones spoke with the Sons of Montezuma Podcast via YouTube Live fresh off of his return flight landing back to his home in Atlanta, Georgia. Affectionally known as JCJ, he had spent the previous 24-plus hours in San Diego on his official recruiting visit.

Jared’s awareness of SDSU came in the form of older brother Darius Jones, who played football at San Diego State back in 2008-2009. From his words, “It’s one of the best places he’s been in his life—he calls it home.”

“That was a big thing for me too, I really trust in his judgement. He’s never steered me wrong—he’s never put me in a place that would hurt me.”

Coleman-Jones who started his collegiate career at Northwestern, played one year there before making the transfer to Middle Tennessee. What makes Coleman-Jones an intriguing addition to the front court for the Aztecs is his obvious size, rebounding on the block, but also his ability to knock down the occasional 3-point shot which he shot at .442 (19-for-43) this season.

Having guard skills and a body that can get physical down in the post is something Aztec Nation became very familiar with in the play of All-American Jaedon LeDee. Coleman-Jones will be expected to aim for a very similar role to fill, as told to him by the staff.

“Jaedon is an amazing player and I watched a lot of his film. His mid post work, I was really impressed with. The way he could break it down, and take 2-3 dribbles and get to the paint—or shoot a jump shot. They made the comparison for sure and I think it’s one of the big reasons they recruited me.”

There’s only one Jaedon LeDee to have walked the halls of Montezuma Mesa, and Jared acknowledges this. But the similarities between the two players offensive versatility were enough that Aztecs coaches could not ignore.

“They really talked about me stretching the floor. They’re excited that I can shoot the ball and not to toot my own horn but, I can really shoot the ball. I can really shoot it.” Jared admits with cool confidence.

“They want me to be able to play inside and build up my aggression & physicality … as well as pairing it with my outside shooting.” JCJ explains about Coach Dutcher’s plans for him. “He wants me to play the 5 (center position) to really expose that mismatch.”

So what’s to be said for Coleman-Jones? Will he live up to the All-American LeDee’s stat line this season? Likely not and that was not the headline pitch given to him during his recruitment trip.

Defense.

“That was the biggest pitch. Like we’re going to play defense. Offense is okay—you’re going to get your shots—but we’re going to get it back on defense. I really liked that because it was a consistent message. It was a consistent message on what they were preaching.”

The son of a former NFL player and older big brother football player at a higher level, the defensive minded toughness isn’t lost on JCJ. For a San Diego State program which is used to ranking Top-25 in defensive efficiency annually, last season’s 35th place felt almost uncharacteristic.