Basketball Guard McKinney to Leave San Diego State

SAN DIEGO —  It appears that the San Diego State basketball team, which has had a thin backcourt for the past couple of years, again will have to rely on inexperienced guards next season.

Chris McKinney, a freshman guard who started 19 games this season for the Aztecs but lost his starting status in late January, said Thursday he will not return to SDSU next season.

Last month, guard James Lewis said he will transfer to Southern Utah State. And, with Arthur Massey’s eligibility used up, the only experienced guard returning figures to be defensive specialist Ray Barefield.

McKinney, who said he informed Coach Jim Brandenburg of his plans about 1 1/2 weeks ago, said he plans to transfer to a community college in either Texas or Kansas.

“I’m just a little homesick,” said McKinney, who is from East St. Louis, Ill. “(San Diego) is too far away from home.”

He is the sixth basketball player in three years to transfer from SDSU. Brandenburg, though, said that doesn’t bother him.

“I think if it’s for the right reasons . . .,” Brandenburg said. “We’ve got a program growing. It’s the kind of a thing where if a player is homesick, or wants to play than he thinks he’s going to get to play, any number of reasons, I think that’s a healthy thing.”

McKinney, who began the season starting with Massey, averaged 5.4 points and 2.1 assists in 22 1/2 minutes per game for the Aztecs. He shot 40% from the field (57 for 144).

McKinney said he is leaning toward attending Midland (Tex.) Community College, but is also looking at Tylerville, Alvin and Howard Community Colleges in Texas and Coffeeville Community College in Kansas. He said he has an aunt in Dallas, Tex., with whom he is close.

He said he was also frustrated with his lack of playing time, but that homesickness contributed.

“It was just a lack of motivation,” he said. “Wanting to go home so badly, my playing deteriorated.”

In addition, guard Jason Powell, a walk-on who played sparingly last season, will not return to SDSU. Powell decided to attend a community college in the Bay area and live at home with his parents.

Brandenburg has recruited two guards: Robert Ringo out of Duncanville (Tex.) High School and Virgil Smith of Fashion Institute in New York. Tony Clark, a sophomore transfer from the University of Arizona, who will be eligible after the first semester, also can play guard.