It was a slam dunk. What former San Diego State basketball standout should be named among the Stars of the Month by the San Diego Hall of Champions?
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, of course.
The two-year SDSU player was voted Most Valuable Player in the NBA championships after leading the Spurs to the title over the Miami Heat. Stepping up in the big games, Leonard averaged 23.7 points a game in the final three wins, including a career-high 29 points in Game 3.
Leonard and San Diego Padres pitcher Jesse Hahn top the list of 11 professional and amateur Stars of Month for June announced Tuesday by the Balboa Park sports museum.
Hahn was dominant in his final three starts of the month for the Padres, fashioning a 4-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, allowing just two earned runs. Hahn struck out 31 batters, including a career high 9 in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati.
Former USD star Kris Bryant’s sizzling stay with the Tennessee Smokies produced a .355 batting average with 22 home runs and 58 RBI in 68 games. Others pro honorees included tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe, who won the Topshelf Open; Ben Bruce, who captured the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon; and ex-UCSD baseball player Tim Shibuya, who dominated on the mound for the Fort Myers Miracle.
Amateur standouts included NCAA champions Shanieka Thomas of San Diego State and Mac Fleet of Oregon.
Thomas, a senior, made it three straight NCAA triple jump crowns (2 outdoor, 1 indoor) when she bounded 45 feet, 11¼ inches. Fleet, a University City High grad, defended his 1,500-meter title when he ran a personal best 3:39.09.
Joining the two were SDSU golfer Xander Schauffele, who captured the California State Amateur title; USD golfer Grant Forrest, who won the St. Andrews Links Trophy; and Point Loma Nazarene soccer player Matt Rose, who is making his mark for the Portland Timbers in the Premier Development League.
For additional information on the honorees please check newly revamped the San Diego Hall of Champions web site at www.sdhoc.com.
