Navigating the college basketball transfer portal can be a bear, but San Diego State just found one.
Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry, a 6-foot-11 center who has been listed as heavy as 280 pounds, committed to the Aztecs on Saturday morning without taking a campus visit, although he should know what it looks like, having grown up in the county.
“Committed,” a social media post said, picturing him in a No. 45 black Aztecs jersey.
He has taken a circuitous route to go those few miles, moving to Phoenix for high school, then a junior college in New Mexico for two seasons, then UNLV in 2024-25, then Sacramento State last season.
His time with the Hornets and coach Mike Bibby had a promising start. Cherry was averaging 18.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in his first five games for the Hornets before suffering a season-ending injury in the sixth, which brings an element of risk to his commitment. He also has struggled with his weight at times, although Sacramento State listed him at a relatively svelte 250 pounds.
At UNLV, he started 32 of 33 games on an 18-15 team and averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks without excessively fouling. In two games against SDSU, both Rebels victories, he had a combined 16 points and four rebounds.
Cherry’s recruitment was relatively quiet. There is no mention on social media or websites that track transfers that he was even in the portal, perhaps forgotten after he limped off in the first half against UCLA on Nov. 18.
And the Aztecs are in desperate need of bigs after losing four of five rotation pieces at power forward and center. Jeremiah Oden was a senior, and 7-0 Magoon Gwath, 6-9 Miles Heide and 6-7 Pharaoh Compton are in the transfer portal.
That brings the current roster to seven, assuming the five players not in the portal return plus incoming freshman Zach White. The Aztecs are also believed to be closing in on an European big as well as arranging visits from transfer portal guards.
Coach Brian Dutcher said earlier this week they are “finalizing” revenue-sharing contracts with the returning players: Elzie Harrington, Tae Simmons, Taj DeGourville, Latrell Davis and Thokbor Majak. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
Cherry is the younger brother of 6-8 Taeshon Cherry, who was a five-star prep recruit from St. Augustine High School and Foothills Christian before initially committing to USC. He ultimately went to Arizona State for three seasons and Grand Canyon for one, then finished his college career at NAIA Marian University in Indiana.