SDSU's other men's basketball team (and why you're probably just now hearing of them)

On a Saturday evening in October, a day after San Diego State’s men’s basketball team hosted a historic preseason exhibition matchup against UCLA, another group of Aztecs took to the court against Southwestern College in Chula Vista. 

Their jerseys were the traditional SDSU scarlet and black colors, but instead of Miles Byrd, Magoon Gwath and head coach Brian Dutcher, it was Dylan Geske, Aaron Garibay and head coach Emery Barajas prepared for tip off. 

Meet the SDSU Men’s Club Basketball team: 18 students playing for love of the sport, a desire to prolong their competitive playing careers and to bring legitimacy to their program. 

It's one of SDSU's more than 300 recognized student organizations, which range from fraternities and sororities to clubs for specific interests, such as the Anime and Manga Club and the Aztec Pickleball Association. These organizations help students meet friends and get involved on campus, which studies have shown improve retention and graduation rates. 

Never heard of them? That’s OK: they’re just entering their second season after a 25-win campaign during their inaugural season in 2024-25. The team will host its first “home” game Nov. 9 at Hoover High School, and hope to host three more home games at Aztec Recreation Center later in the season. Admission is free. 

Geske grew from 5-8 as a ninth grader to 6-7 by his senior year, but missed all of his junior season with a broken leg. He chose to attend SDSU for school, but by his sophomore year, the “basketball itch” returned. 

“I started to miss it,” he said. “My roommate was on the club basketball team and started telling me about it, so I tried out this year, and I’ve found something I really like to be a part of.”

The Aztecs jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Jaguars, a top local junior college program. Southwestern College took a timeout, which caused a cheer from the Aztecs bench and Barajas, and a smile from general manager Ben Ghilarducci. 

Ghilarducci, who played high school basketball for Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, played four years of club basketball at Cal Poly Pomona before transferring to SDSU in 2024 for graduate school. 

Club basketball, he said, allowed him to continue playing at a level higher than recreational or intramural leagues, and he was eager to get one started at tradition-rich SDSU.

“I knew they didn’t have a club team, which was pretty crazy just considering how good the NCAA Division 1 team has been, especially recently,” Ghilarducci said. “So I figured, I kind of know how to run a club team, and I have experience, so I said ‘Why not?’”

That summer, he heard from Barajas, whom he had competed against in club ball. Barajas was also going to grad school at SDSU and wanted to help start the program. Ghilarducci named Barajas head coach. 

First season

The pair took the steps to get approval to become a recognized student organization and then held tryouts. More than 50 people came out for the team the first season, many of whom share Ghilarducci’s story. 

Daniel Greathouse, team president this season, was among the players selected for the inaugural team. Greathouse opted to attend SDSU and study business management as opposed to basketball at a smaller school.

He said playing for the club has been the best part of his SDSU experience. 

“To play with a group of guys who love to compete and push each other to be the best versions of themselves has been so much fun and to be able to all work towards a common goal…is something I haven’t been a part of in a while and I am so grateful to be a part of it,” Greathouse said. 

The team also includes players who played collegiately. Aaron Garibay, Alexander “Bekdoo” Lewis and Dane Kiefer all played junior college basketball. Tyler Matthews played at the University of La Verne. 

“Basically, these are the best players on campus that aren’t on the SDSU men’s team,” Ghilarducci said. 

Southwestern burned another timeout after the Aztecs took a 9-0 lead. Jaguars head coach Tyrone Shelley ― who played for SDSU during the 2009-10 season ― implored his team to take the game seriously.

Geske said this is a common refrain at games. 

“I do think some teams think just because we are a club that we can’t hoop, or that we don’t spend as much time in the gym as a college program,” Geske said. “But I know all these guys take this seriously and train like we are a college program. They shouldn’t underestimate us.”

The Aztecs led Southwestern 33-27 at halftime.

Then and now

A year ago, the neophyte team hit the ground running, going 25-8 and winning tournaments at the University of San Diego and Arizona State, where they toppled club basketball powerhouse Grand Canyon University.

This year, they have their sights set on the National Club Basketball Association Championships. 

SDSU received entrance into the NCBBA,  the largest club basketball governing body, in April, making them eligible for the championship tournament April 10-12, 2026 in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

To qualify, they’ll need to win their conference, which includes UC Riverside, USD, UC San Diego and Vanguard. 

The team relies on donations, fundraising and their own money to finance the season. Each player paid $150 membership dues, in addition to paying for meals and gas on road trips. 

“Guys are just playing for the love of the game, you know, we're not getting scholarships...so everyone who's playing is taking time out of their busy schedules, whether it's work or school, to come together and keep playing,” Ghilarducci said. 

On Saturday, however, their goal was to simply beat the Jaguars. 

Southwestern returned after halftime much more focused, erasing the six-point lead and taking a two-point lead of their own, which prompted Barajas to call a timeout. 

The Aztecs calmly countered Southwestern’s big run with one of its own to regain a 7-point advantage. Down the stretch as Southwestern attempted to claw back into the game, the team made key baskets and free throws and prevailed 74-70. 

The players returned to the bench, high fived each other and calmly shook the Jaguars hands. 

Don’t call it an upset, they said. The Aztecs expect to win. 

To learn more about the SDSU Men’s Club Basketball team, visit the team website or Instagram page. To learn more about starting a recognized student organization on campus, visit SDSU’s RSO page. 

Pictured above:

Back row (from left): Dukens Semexant, Warren Requieron, Josh Chaves, Zaid Yunis, Noah Meng, Daniel Greathouse, Tino Stemberga, Bek Lewis, Coach Quentin Johnson, Coach Emery Barajas

Front row (from left): Dane Kiefer, Jake Knight, Mykel Rondares, Aaron Garibay, Alija Hunter, Nick Gabriel-Yingling, Ben Ghilarducci

Not pictured:
Torrance White, Hassan Anglo, Light Okeke, Tyler Matthews