Over the past decade, the rise of San Diego State as one of the West Coast’s, and college basketball’s, top teams has been a remarkable story. Coach Steve Fisher has built his program on simple principles, relying on athletic players and tough defense. It’s not about who started games, but everyone pulling together to win the game. Forward Dwayne Polee, who just wrapped up his college career with the Aztecs, is exactly the kind of player who flourished under Fisher.
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Polee, a Los Angeles native, started his career in the east at St. John’s. Though he started 27 of the team’s 33 games as a freshman, he played only 15 minutes per game. Polee wanted to be closer to home though, and he thought Fisher may be the coach to get the best out of him.
After sitting out a season due to transfer rules, Polee had trouble working his way into the Aztecs’ rotation as a sophomore, but he kept working, waiting for his opportunity.
That opportunity would come during his junior season. Coming off the bench, Polee averaged 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, in just 18 minutes per game. He also shot 47 percent from the field, and 39 percent from three-point range. Polee showed that you didn’t need a ton of minutes to make a major impact, and his play helped the Aztecs to 31 wins and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. In the NCAA Tournament, Polee would average 14 points and 5 rebounds per game. For his efforts, Polee was named the Mountain West’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Polee’s play earned him a spot in the starting lineup as a senior, and though scoring was inconsistent, his defense was fantastic against a very tough schedule. A medical issue caused him to miss 16 games, but he came back at the end of February, giving the team a spark to help win another share of the Mountain West.
The Aztecs were back in the NCAA Tournament, and their Round of 64 opponent was Polee’s former team, St. John’s. Polee played one of his best games of the season, scoring 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting, with 3 steals, as the Aztecs won and moved on to play Duke, where their season would end.
A quick glance at Polee’s numbers will never tell you the full story of his impact on the court. Bringing energy and hard work when a team needs it isn’t a statistic. Polee isn’t worried about the numbers; he’s there to help win games.
His college career done, Polee is able to look back and see how the past five years have made him into the player and person he is now.
“My time in college, both at St. John’s and San Diego State, facing different adversities, made me grow as a person,” said Polee. “At St. John’s, I wasn’t playing that much, and when I first got to San Diego State, I didn’t play much that first year. I learned that even when things don’t go the way you want, you never give up.”
Polee gives a lot of credit in his development to Coach Fisher. “He’s a great coach, and has a great ability to get his players to all play as one,” said Polee. “Look at guys who have come through, like Jamaal Franklin, Xavier Thames, Winston Shepard. There are no egos on this team.”
Now he is ready for the next step as a professional, and Polee believes he has a good idea what about his game is attractive to pro teams. “My length, athleticism, and ability to play defense should all translate well to the next level,” Polee said. “I can come in at any time and provide high energy play, and the ability to knock down shots.”
Polee sees how those abilities should allow him to contribute in some way immediately. “Teams need an athletic, energy guy coming off the bench,” said Polee. “I see a guy like Jeff Green, and think I can contribute a lot in the way he does.”
Though he was Sixth Man of the Year in Mountain West, Polee doesn’t think having experience coming off the bench in college gives him an advantage as a pro. “In the NBA, it’s rare for anyone to just come in and start or play a lot of minutes,” said Polee. “Every guy who comes in has to adjust and be ready to provide a spark when they get the chance.”
Polee has been training in Los Angeles for his pre-draft workouts, and he will be working out for teams starting this week, including the Los Angeles Clippers.
When it comes time for the draft, Polee was quick to reiterate what he could bring to any team that took a shot on him. “Whatever spot they put me in, I’ll bring energy, athleticism, and will be a defensive stopper.”
Through the ups and downs of college, Polee still made his mark, and he’s prepared to take on whatever comes his way at the next stop of his journey.
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