26 Points: The Stat That Defines New Aztec Guard Chance Gladden

Chance Gladden averaged 26 points in his final season at a private prep school in Raleigh, North Carolina. That production level is the benchmark now attached to the San Diego State point guard as the Aztecs prepare to open their season.

The program is entering its first year in the Pac-12 Conference after a stretch of six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Last year, the team barely missed the cut. Coach Brian Dutcher is counting on a rebuilt guard corps to restore the team's tournament viability.

Gladden arrived from Boston University, where he started 31 games. In his Patriot League season, he posted 14.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. His free throw percentage of 86.7 ranked 61st in the nation. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 192 pounds, giving him the lateral quickness to handle faster opponents.

He joins two other key guards in the starting lineup. Elzie Harrington returns as a sophomore. Last season, he started 17 games and averaged eight points on 47.9 percent shooting. He missed the final two weeks of that campaign with a leg injury. At 6-foot-5 and 197 pounds, he offers size and scoring ability.

Latrell Davis completes the trio. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound guard spent two years at San Jose State before redshirting with SDSU last season. He directed the scout team during the offseason. Dutcher said Davis would have started the recent exhibition games if not for a recurring shoulder looseness.

The new backcourt has already shown flashes of promise in exhibition play. Gladden scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds against Arizona. Against USC, he recorded one point, three assists and three turnovers while facing heavy on-ball pressure. In a game against Long Beach State, he contributed 11 points and seven assists on five-for-five shooting in 20 minutes.

Harrington provided a strong performance against 21st-ranked USC in a recent exhibition. He scored 19 points and dished out four assists. The victory serves as an early indicator of his potential growth as a sophomore.

The team faces Cal State Fullerton at home on Tuesday to begin the regular season. The nonconference schedule will test the chemistry of the Gladden, Harrington and Davis trio before the Pac-12 slate begins.

Long Beach State coach Chris Acker, who served as an assistant with SDSU for five seasons, believes the group will drive the offense. He noted that the team's success in March will depend on guard play. Acker said the Aztecs have the personnel to compete if they continue to improve.

Zach White, a 6-foot-5 freshman, is competing for bench minutes. He hit two corner three-pointers against Long Beach State. The depth at the guard position gives Dutcher options as the season progresses into November.