Amanda Knapp
In September 2019, San Diego State University (SDSU) held open tryouts for their men's basketball team. The tryouts were open to the general student body and were held at Viejas Arena. While the team already had a loaded roster, the tryouts provided an opportunity for students to showcase their talent and potentially earn a spot on the team or other roles, such as student managers. Among those who attended the tryouts were freshmen brothers Tyler and Triston Broughton, who both demonstrated their skills and passion for the sport. The tryouts lasted for about 45 minutes, and while the competition was tough, it offered a chance for students to pursue their basketball dreams and contribute to the SDSU basketball program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of tryouts | September 2019 |
| Venue | Viejas Arena |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Number of attendees | 9 |
| Notable attendees | Tyler and Triston Broughton, Kennedy Stitt-Riley |
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What You'll Learn
- SDSU's basketball team held open tryouts at Viejas Arena
- Coach Brian Dutcher held a 45-minute tryout for 9 students
- Broughton twins, Tyler and Triston, got into SDSU's basketball team
- Kennedy Stitt-Riley, a 6-foot guard, attended SDSU's open tryouts
- Tryouts included a lung-scorching workout run by assistants
SDSU's basketball team held open tryouts at Viejas Arena
SDSU's basketball team, the Aztecs, held open tryouts at Viejas Arena in September 2019. The 45-minute tryout was for the men's team and was open to the general student body. While nine students showed up, Coach Brian Dutcher already had a full roster and did not need any new players. However, he did need student managers, and this was an opportunity to convince some of the tryout participants to take on those roles.
Among the students who tried out were freshmen brothers Tyler and Triston Broughton, who had attended Tesoro High School in Orange County. The identical twins had a strong basketball legacy, with their father, Chris Mills, playing for Kentucky and Arizona in college and then having a 10-year NBA career. The brothers had initially planned to attend different colleges, but both ended up at SDSU, with Tyler successfully appealing his initial rejection.
Another student who tried out was Kennedy Stitt-Riley, a 6-foot guard who had previously led King/Drew Magnet High to a 20-16 record and a CIF Los Angeles City Division II championship. Stitt-Riley, who was academically gifted and received a scholarship to attend SDSU, dreamed of playing college basketball and had been training for this moment.
While it is unclear if any of these students were successful in making the team or becoming student managers, the tryouts provided an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and pursue their basketball ambitions.
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Coach Brian Dutcher held a 45-minute tryout for 9 students
In September 2019, Coach Brian Dutcher of the San Diego State men's basketball team held a 45-minute open tryout for nine students at Viejas Arena. While Coach Dutcher didn't need any new players, with his roster already loaded, he held the tryout to find some students who could become managers for the team.
Among the nine students who showed up was Kennedy Stitt-Riley, a 6-foot guard with a strong high school basketball record. Stitt-Riley had received an academic scholarship to attend San Diego State and was majoring in psychology. He dreamed of playing college basketball and had spent the previous year training and working out for this moment.
Also in attendance were freshmen brothers Tyler and Triston Broughton, from Tesoro High in Orange County. Tyler and Triston had a compelling family story, with their mother, a former beauty queen, raising them as a single mother after she was involved in a pair of serious car accidents in the 1990s that initially left her paralyzed. Their father, Chris Mills, had played college basketball at Kentucky and Arizona before a 10-year NBA career. Tyler and Triston both wore their father's old jersey numbers—24 and 42, respectively.
The tryout was a grueling workout, and Coach Dutcher's assistants put the students through their paces while he watched from the stands. After the tryout, Coach Dutcher thanked the students for coming and acknowledged the effort they had put in to be there. He invited them to stay and watch the team's practice, and he gave them a realistic view of the role of a walk-on player. While none of the students may have been selected for the team, the tryout provided an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and pursue their basketball dreams.
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Broughton twins, Tyler and Triston, got into SDSU's basketball team
The SDSU men's basketball team held open tryouts at Viejas Arena for the general student body in September 2019. Nine students showed up for the 45-minute tryout, including identical twins Tyler and Triston Broughton. Coach Brian Dutcher's roster was already loaded, but he offered both Tyler and Triston spots as walk-ons.
The brothers had a desire to continue playing together, but initially, only Tyler gained admission to SDSU. Triston was rejected and was set to attend Division III Cal Lutheran before appealing his rejection and gaining admission to SDSU. The twins had successful high school basketball careers at Tesoro High School in Orange County and were recruited across Southern California. Tyler is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound wing with good size, length, athleticism, aggression, and basketball IQ. He also has a superior work ethic, which he applies in the classroom and on the court.
Triston, on the other hand, was a valedictorian in high school and is the better student. He also possesses good basketball skills and is working towards a professional basketball career. The brothers are extremely close, with Tyler referring to his older brother as "the Rough Draft," and himself as the final, updated, better version. They share a passion for the sport and are driven by the inspirational story of their mother, Tracy, a former beauty queen who raised them as a single mother after being involved in serious car accidents in the 1990s.
The Broughtons do not receive scholarship or NIL money for their contributions to the team, but they do get championship rings. They have helped the team achieve a record of 97-21 since their arrival. Despite the challenges of being walk-ons, the twins continue to "grind," practicing just as much as scholarship players and contributing to the team's success.
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Kennedy Stitt-Riley, a 6-foot guard, attended SDSU's open tryouts
SDSU's men's basketball team held these open tryouts at Viejas Arena for the general student body. While Coach Brian Dutcher didn't need players, as his roster was already loaded, he did require some student managers. Dutcher acknowledged the bureaucratic hoops that the attendees had jumped through, including academic and NCAA paperwork, a physical exam, and a sickle cell test. He even invited them to stick around and watch practice.
Stitt-Riley was one of nine students who showed up for the tryouts, which lasted 45 minutes. The tryouts were an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot on the team or other related roles. It is not uncommon for students to have to navigate the challenges of Division I basketball prospects and stay fit for tryouts.
SDSU has a history of successful basketball walk-ons, such as the Broughton twins, who attended open tryouts in 2019 and became valuable members of the team, receiving championship rings. The open tryouts provide a platform for students to pursue their basketball dreams and contribute to the team's success.
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Tryouts included a lung-scorching workout run by assistants
SDSU held open tryouts for its men's basketball team in 2019. The 45-minute tryout, held at Viejas Arena, was attended by nine students and led by three assistants of Coach Brian Dutcher, who watched from the stands. The workout was described as "lung-scorching", with one participant leaving the court in the middle of a drill to be sick. Despite his loaded roster, Coach Dutcher thanked the participants and acknowledged the bureaucratic challenges they had overcome to attend the tryout. He also invited them to watch practice and explained the realistic expectations of a walk-on player.
Among the attendees were Tyler and Triston Broughton, freshmen brothers from Tesoro High in Orange County. The brothers had a unique story: Tyler was initially rejected by SDSU, but appealed and gained admission. Their mother, a former beauty queen, had raised them as a single mother after being paralysed in a pair of serious car accidents in the 1990s. Their father, Chris Mills, had a 10-year NBA career after being drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1993.
Triston reflected on the disappointment of dreams not coming true but expressed contentment with his role on the team and the pride he felt in their accomplishments. Although the Broughton twins did not receive scholarships or NIL money, they were rewarded with championship rings.
Another attendee was Kennedy Stitt-Riley, a 6-foot guard with impressive high school basketball credentials. Stitt-Riley had received an academic scholarship to attend San Diego State and was majoring in psychology. He dreamed of playing college basketball and had trained all year to prepare for the tryout.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, SDSU has held open tryouts for its basketball team in the past.
Tryouts are held at the beginning of the fall semester, typically in September.
The tryouts are open to the general student body.
You can expect a rigorous 45-minute workout evaluated by the SDSU basketball coaching staff.
