There’s a new name on San Diego State’s basketball roster, a 6-foot-9 junior forward from Calabasas in jersey No. 10 with the last name of Montana.

If he bears a striking resemblance to a 6-9 forward from Calabasas who wore No. 10 last season, that’s because it’s the same guy. Beginning this season, Max Hoetzel will be Max Montana.

And it’s not some arbitrary decision born of youthful insouciance. This has been a family plan set in motion more than two decades ago.

His German father, Holger Hoetzel, and Danish mother, Heidi, visited Montana when they first moved to America and, according to Max, “both fell in love with the state.” So much that they gave Max and his two sisters the middle name of Montana.


“My dad had issues with people spelling his (last) name wrong, pronouncing it wrong,” Max said. “You have to speak German to pronounce it correctly. There’s almost like an ‘r’ sound in there. Even I can’t say it correctly … So he wanted to give us the option to change our middle name to our last name.”

Max says he nearly did it when he turned 18, while at prep school in Massachusetts.

“It’s something my family and I have been talking about since I was very young,” he said. “It’s always been there. I went through the process a few years ago where I was thinking about changing it but I never felt like it was the right time. Right now feels like the right time.

“My parents are very supportive. It was their idea in the first place.”


This time, it was a collective decision. Both his sisters are switching to Montana as well.

He hasn’t legally changed the name, although he plans to eventually, and he remains Hoetzel on his driver’s license and school documents. But he’s Max Montana on his social media accounts, and he’ll be Max Montana in SDSU’s 2017-18 basketball media guide.

The name on his jersey isn’t the only change this season. He received medical clearance this week to jettison the bulky brace on his right knee.

Hoetzel has had three surgeries on the knee and hyperextended it during preseason practice last October. The Indiana transfer with a deadly perimeter stroke opted against another surgery and instead wore a restrictive brace, starting 10 times and averaging 7.7 points.


He spent the summer strengthening the leg, so much that it is stronger than the left now. Which meant: no more brace.

“That’s a big step for me,” Max Montana said. “I feel really good, honestly.”


Aztecs × On Now Video: Aztecs make history with upset over No. 6 Nevada On Now Aztecs prepare for Fresno State On Now Aztecs beat New Mexico, 97-77 On Now Dutcher, Aztecs prepare for Air Force On Now Aztecs beat Wyoming, 84-54 On Now Aztecs prepare for conference game against Boise On Now Aztecs beat Texas Southern, 103-64 On Now Rocky Long: "This team has overachieved" On Now SDSU West bests SoccerCity as voters embrace a new vision for Mission Valley stadium site On Now Aztecs win season opener, 76-60

mark.zeigler@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutzeigler