When Jeremiah Oden considered San Diego State as a transfer destination, he didn’t need to see Viejas Arena. He’d already been inside it three times.
And when Aztecs coaches considered 6-foot-9 Oden to fill its void at forward, it didn’t need to watch film of him. Oden averaged 13 points while shooting 61% (and 42.9% from 3) for Wyoming in five career games against SDSU.
It’s a match of familiarity, then, and one of necessity. Oden is looking for a spot for his sixth and final college season. SDSU needs a tall, athletic, experienced 4-man who can stretch the floor with Magoon Gwath in the transfer portal.
Oden visited SDSU over the weekend and orally committed to the Aztecs on Monday night.
That figures to be the first of possibly five spring additions after three scholarship players ran out of eligibility and three others (Gwath, Nick Boyd and Demarshay Johnson Jr.) entered the portal. The Aztecs are expected to pursue four veteran transfers and possibly another incoming freshman.
Oden, who grew up in Chicago and goes by “JO,” has career averages of 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in three seasons at Wyoming and one at DePaul, bringing 119 games (86 starts) and 1,957 minutes of Division I experience. He transferred to Charlotte for the 2024-25 season to use his COVID year but broke a bone in his foot and never played. A medical waiver gives him a sixth year.
He had five and 11 points at Viejas Arena as a freshman in a pair of games without fans during the pandemic. In three games as a sophomore and junior at Wyoming, he had 17, 15 and 17 points.
At DePaul, he started 24 times and had a season-high 25 points on 6 of 7 shooting behind the arc against Iowa State. He also had 22 points against Louisville and 19 against Marquette.
His career high of 28 came two years ago against Nevada.
His career 3-point accuracy of 31.4% is less impressive, but try telling that to Aztecs coaches; Oden was 9 of 21 behind the arc against them and 6 of 11 in Viejas Arena. He also has a midrange game off the dribble and is agile enough to play the 3-man instead of exclusively being a 4.
When Oden committed to Charlotte last year, coach Aaron Fearne called him “a talented player whose best basketball is still ahead of him (and who) brings length, athleticism and shooting ability to our perimeter in addition to a high level of professionalism, character and NCAA Tournament experience.”
Oden considered SDSU two years ago when he transferred from Wyoming, ultimately choosing an NIL payday and a chance to play in his hometown at DePaul. He fell off the radar when he got hurt at Charlotte, but SDSU coaches stayed in touch with his representatives and quickly pursued him once Gwath entered the portal last Monday.
