San Diego State will have an extra men’s basketball scholarship available for next season.

Redshirt junior Max Montana announced that he intends to graduate this summer and leave the program, but not for the reasons you might think. He doesn’t plan to transfer and use his final season of collegiate eligibility elsewhere.

Instead, he’ll turn pro.

Montana is eligible for dual citizenship through his German father and thus qualifies for a European Union work permit, which means he wouldn’t count as a foreigner in most European leagues. That makes the 6-foot-9 sharpshooting forward a valuable commodity and a viable pro prospect.


“He’s got an advantage with that German passport, not just in Germany but a lot of European countries,” coach Brian Dutcher said. “Max could have played somewhere else (in college) next season, but I don’t think he felt that would put him any closer to his goal of being a professional player. I think it’s a good move for him.”

That also leaves SDSU with one less returnee for next season.

Dutcher has just five players back from the 2017-18 team that reached the NCAA Tournament, plus redshirt freshman Adam Seiko and three incoming freshmen. Jalen McDaniels has provisionally entered the NBA Draft but didn’t hire an agent, allowing him to retain his collegiate eligibility if he withdraws before June.

The math: SDSU now has three available scholarships for 2018-19 – one they didn’t use last season, one from the departed Montaque Gill-Caesar and now one for Montana.


But scholarships are prized currency in this era of college basketball, given the volatility of rosters and subsequent availability of quality players, a recent uptick in talent in junior college and the growing market of fifth-year transfers who are eligible immediately.

“We’re looking at guys who can play next year but it’s not a must,” Dutcher said when asked how he’ll use his scholarships. “We finished the season with 10 players this year, and we have 10 if Jalen comes back. But obviously I’d like at least one more in the mix next season. We’ll look at the junior colleges, and we’ll look at the fifth-year transfers to see if there’s a good fit.”

Montana, who changed his last name from Hoetzel before this season, began his college career at Indiana before transferring. He spent the last three years on Montezuma Mesa, one sitting out as a redshirt and the last two playing. He started 10 times as a sophomore and averaged 7.7 points. He did not start in 26 appearances as a junior and slipped to 6.9 points, seventh best on the team.

He had a promising start to the season, making four 3-pointers at Arizona State in the second game before hyperextending his knee in the second half and missing the next six.


Once healthy, he struggled adjusting to Dutcher’s substitution patterns, once being benched for a full game after, in the coach’s estimation, not reacting well to reduced playing time.

But he responded well, scoring 20 points in a 97-78 win against Colorado State and making arguably the biggest shot of the season against New Mexico in the Mountain West tournament – a 4-point play while falling out of bounds with six minutes left that gave the Aztecs the lead for good.

Montana largely was a 3-point specialist, with 41 of his 59 baskets this past season coming behind the arc. He also was streaky and tended to have his biggest performances in lopsided games, most notably 15 points in the closing 2½ minutes of an 85-49 victory against San Jose State.

He scored in double figures eight times last season; all eight games were all decided by 10 or more points and by an average margin of 20.


His defense improved as the season went on, and his departure means the Aztecs now have lost three players 6-9 or taller from last season’s roster, joining 6-10 senior Malik Pope and 7-1 senior Kameron Rooks.

Montana was unavailable for comment but said in a statement: “I am grateful to Coach Dutcher, Coach (Steve) Fisher and my teammates for a tremendous three seasons. I have enjoyed my San Diego State experience and appreciate all of the Aztec fans that have made this such a great experience. I look forward to following the Aztecs closely as I pursue my professional basketball career overseas.”

Dutcher is awaiting word on another potential departure. Associate head coach Justin Hutson is a finalist for the job at Fresno State. Final interviews were scheduled for Tuesday, and an announcement could come as soon as Wednesday.


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