Aguek Arop makes others better

Aztec nation usually leaves Viejas Arena happy.

Photo bySDSU Athletics

According to Teamrankings.com, SDSU has compiled a 140-20 home record since the 2014-2015 season. The program’s 87.5% winning percentage in that span is ninth best in the nation, one spot higher than Duke.

However rare, defeat’s sting lingers longer than victory’s thrill. Among the 20 home losses, the inexplicable 81-62 defeat to Brown in 2018, where the Ivy League school shot 71.4% (62.5% from three) in the first half and had a 26-0 run, stands out as the worst.

Lost in that contest, which most in America’s Finest City have tried to forget, was the breakout game by freshman Aguek Arop. He set then-career highs of 11 points and five rebounds in just 14 minutes.

It was the first glimpse of Arop’s uncanny ability to impact a game with minimal playing time. Over the next five seasons in a career that culminated in the National Championship Game, Arop consistently elevated everyone around him.

During his senior season, Arop’s impact on the entire SDSU community came into focus. In late February, a handful of his friends used their free student tickets to watch him play against Colorado State. They scrawled "Aguek Arop" across their chests and donned angel wings to show appreciation for how he blessed them off the court.

At the conclusion of his playing career, Arop expressed a desire to take a break from the game. He was unsure what the next chapter held for him but knew coaching was not part of it. After getting away for the summer, he changed his mind.

Last August, Arop took a position on head coach Brian Dutcher’s staff. Heading into his second season, Arop has not been on the job for a full calendar year. Approaching the anniversary of his hire in a few weeks, he has spent the past eleven months doing what he’s done since walking onto campus in 2018. He’s making others better.

“It’s going great, actually,” Arop told the East Village Times this week in an exclusive conversation. “I guess the best way to put it is I got my feet under me. I know what’s expected of me. I’m expecting a lot more out of myself, and I think the coaching staff is expecting more out of me. Now that I know what it looks like, I’m kind of taking that next step. Taking on a bigger role, having a bigger voice, just being more proactive.”

Building Relationships

Like all college coaches, Arop’s duties include a dizzying array of activities. Recent NCAA changes to what is permissible for coaches in his role allow him to describe his job as “essentially another assistant …(with) a lot of the same responsibilities just a little lighter load.”

The most tangible aspect of his work is producing the team's advanced scout. Arop edits the film on the opposition that the players study before a contest. The Aztecs are known for their defensive game plans. A few extra days for Dutcher and his staff to prepare usually results in a victory. Former assistant JD Pollock excelled in this process. Arop has continued that work.

As sharp as his basketball acumen is, Arop’s greatest skill is his ability to connect with people. The contagious energy he played with, which made him such a beloved athlete, is who he is. People are drawn to him, and it makes him an excellent coach.

“Definitely getting to know the guys,” Arop said. “They’re at an age where you can have such a major impact, change the trajectory of their lives. Getting to know the guys that come in. That is by far my favorite part of my job.”

Earning the Right to Lead

A truism about young professionals is they are skilled at parroting an industry’s techniques and cliches but lack the depth of experience for a truly refined practice. Arop is a rare exception. He is new to his field but approaches it with an understanding beyond his years.

What Arop knows intuitively most figure out much later in life. His main task is developing college athletes on the basketball court. He already realizes that growth is as personalized as the individual pursuing it.

“A lot of it is maintaining relationships, helping them feel comfortable,” Arop said about his role. “You don’t know what each guy needs individually, but I’m pointing out that I’m there for them, that I’m attentive to them, (and) that I understand their needs as young men. I’m still a young man myself, so I think I can relate more. To develop relationships that’s the main part because at the end of the day, this isn’t easy and you need guys to come in knowing that they’re supported. They’re going to have fun but still get better. There’s a lot that goes into that because we’re dealing with humans.”

Armed with this insight, he is a tremendous asset to SDSU at a time when the sport is undergoing massive changes. The power of relationships matters more than ever.

In college basketball, teams with elite chemistry usually fare better than those less connected. With players able to transfer at will, developing togetherness has never been tougher. Having someone like Arop on staff, who is close to the age of the players, should allow SDSU to navigate the changes well.

Player Development

Part of Arop’s new role is recruiting. This summer, he flew to multiple states, evaluating high school prospects. With Chris Acker’s departure to Long Beach State, the NCAA allowing all six assistants to recruit off-campus could not have come at a better time. As much as anyone, Arop is equipped to excel as a recruiter.

“Honestly, it’s a luxury for me having played at San Diego State because we’re looking for Aztecs,” Arop said. “Guys that compete, that are long, lengthy, that defend, that free flow on offense, have a great feel for basketball. Honestly, it was a luxury for me. I learned pretty quickly because we’re looking for Aztecs. Playing as an Aztec, I know what we’re looking for. There’s a lot of guys that check off the boxes for other schools but for us, not that many.”

In addition to his other duties, Dutcher gives Arop a few players to focus on during the season. The young assistant works with all of SDSU’s athletes but pours into his assigned group. Who these players will be for the upcoming season hasn't been decided yet, but as a former inside player, he will be working with the team’s bigs.

In the future, it is easy to see how the trust he develops on the recruiting trail will translate to the practice court allowing Arop to develop future Aztecs to excel on The Mesa. He is not just selling his alma mater but the opportunity to play under a coach who is genuinely all about his players.

“I’ll have a few guys that I’ll be working with specifically,” Arop said. “I’ll do my best to build them up, try to teach them as much as I can. We got eight new guys, so we’ve got a lot to learn. For this year, it’s hard to put a set goal because we’re working with humans. There’s a lot of variables, a lot of nuances.”

“I think it’s just helping each guy develop individually, whether it’s (to) slow down their game and think more versus play more. Some guys think too much. The guys I’ll be assigned to - obviously I’ll be working with everyone - there will be a few guys I’ll give special attention and care to, that’s a big goal of mine because a lot of it is relationships. That’s what I’ve noticed. I believe you’ve got to earn the right to be able to speak to these guys’ lives. If I can earn that, they’ll trust me more.”

Head coach Aguek Arop?

Arop is undecided on what he aspires to in the profession. He sees the extra stress Dutcher deals with as the head coach and is unsure if he wants to take on the added responsibility. But, he also added that his outlook is that of a young man and he can see himself reaching for the top job in the future. In talking about this year’s team, he already sounds like a head coach.

“We’re extremely talented,” Arop said. “We’re actually bigger and longer than last year. I think we’ll play together better as a team. We’re still working on getting it all together, but we have a lot of talent. That is promising.”

“With a lot of new guys, one of the things is learning the defense, but there’s one thing about San Diego State, we’re always going to play defense so it’s not the least of my worries, but I know it will come along.”

Whatever the future holds, Arop is thriving as an assistant. The health issues that curtailed a promising playing career are improving as his basketball workload has diminished.

Improving his strength and mobility by breaking down the scar tissue from past surgeries is what he is focusing on. In practice, he still competes against the team but knows his body well enough to not push his limits.

On the recruiting trail, in practice, in meetings with colleagues, and everywhere else he goes, Aguek Arop makes others better.