more steve sire news

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Please, Sir, A Bit More. . . More
San Diego State News--(June 7, 2001)

Yesterday we noted that our friend Clark Francis had reported that San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher had received a commitment from Steve Sir (6'-4" Sr. SG) from Cretin-Derham HS in St. Paul, Minnesota. Of course, this really wasn't news, because the San Diego Union Tribune had reported it back as far as a month ago (on May 13, specifically). And the SD U-T article also answered some of the questions we had asked, specifically whether Sir would be a walk-on for a year or whether someone else would be giving up a scholarship. Here's Ed Graney's article from the Union Tribuine (which can also be found by clicking on the link)

Fisher's reputation nets sharpshooter

By Ed Graney
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 13, 2001

Steve Sir is one of the nation's best three-point shooters in high school basketball, and when it came time to decide where his game could best reach the next level, he went with the coach he had read about for years.

"My goal in college will be to become the absolute best player I can," Sir said. "I think the best opportunity to do that will be playing for Coach Fisher and his staff."

Sir, who helped lead Cretin Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minn., to a third-place finish in the state tournament last season, said this weekend he will attend San Diego State in the fall.

The 6-foot-41/2, 195-pound guard chose SDSU over, among others, Utah.

SDSU coach Steve Fisher does not have any available scholarships next season. Sir said he will walk on as a freshman, redshirt and go on scholarship in 2002-03.

"I'm actually looking forward to redshirting my first season," Sir said. "I'm going to use that first year to get used to the college game mentally and physically. After that, with some of the guys who will be graduating, I think there will be a great opportunity to play a lot of minutes and contribute right away."

Sir averaged 23 points, six rebounds and five assists as a senior. He made 54 percent of his three-point attempts and set a state record with 149 threes. Coaches who have seen Sir play and are familiar with SDSU's roster said the prep player immediately becomes the team's best shooter.

Sir took all five of his recruiting visits, ending with a trip to Utah last week.

"I liked a lot of things about Utah's program," he said. "But I kept thinking back to my visit to San Diego. To have an opportunity to play under Coach Fisher and learn from him . . . It's just too good of an opportunity."

Fisher recently completed one of the best recruiting seasons in school history. Discounting injuries and possible redshirts, the Aztecs will have seven seniors (including walk-ons Al Faux and Jim Roban) on next season's roster.

SDSU coaches came to know about Sir through a longtime friend and mentor of Fisher. Les Wothke, who gave Fisher his first coaching job at Rich East High (Ill.) and later an assistant's position at Western Michigan, coached Sir's father (Paul) at Winona State.

"Coach Fisher really got me excited when he talked about the future of the program," Steve Sir said. "The (Mountain West Conference) is a great league. This is the best fit for me."

So, that answers that. . .. Sir will walk on and hope for a schollie the following year. Nice addition to the program.