What Gustavo Ayon could have done for SJSU basketball

Very, very few people recall that 6-10 Mexico native Gustavo Ayon signed with San Jose State University (SJSU) for the 2006-07 season.

From Wikipedia:

Ayón attended Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla in Mexico for three years of college. He was named Most Valuable Player of the Mexican national college championship tournament in leading the team to the championship. Following this season, he signed with NCAA Division I San Jose State University. However, Ayón never played for the Spartans, instead choosing to sign with a Mexican professional team, Halcones UV Xalapa.

His basketball bonafides (earliest to latest):

* 2006 Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico)

* 2007 Vaqueros de Agua Prieta (Mexico)

* 2007–2008 Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico)

* 2008 Dorados de Playa del Carmen (Mexico)

* 2008–2009 Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico)

* 2009 Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)

* 2009 Marinos de Anzoátegui (Venezuela)

* 2009 CB Illescas (Spain)

* 2009–2010 Tenerife CB (Spain)

* 2010–2011 Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)

* 2011–2012 New Orleans Hornets

* 2012–2013 Orlando Magic

* 2013 Milwaukee Bucks

* 2013–2014 Atlanta Hawks (On February 28, 2014, it was announced that Ayón would miss the rest of the 2013–14 season following successful surgery to repair a right shoulder injury.)

The latest:

In the current Centrobasket 2014 tournament, Mexico just topped Cuba 85-70 and "Gustavo Ayon continues to be the go to guy for Mexico, nailing 28 points and 15 rebounds for an impressive double-double..." 

In the title game versus Puerto Rico, Mexico won 74-60 and "Gustavo Ayon has impressed for the winners throughout this year’s competition and was the MVP here as he collected a 16 points/16 rebounds double-double..."

Had Ayon played back in the 2006-07 season (and the rumors are many as to why he never suited up before disappearing), could Ayon's presence have led Spartan basketball into a positive direction way back when?

The answer can obviously never be factually determined. Initially he would have shared the center spot with senior Menelik Barbary, alongside guards Carlton Spencer and Jamon Hill plus forward Tim Pierce. Freshmen Justin Graham and center Oliver Caballero redshirted the season, with 6-foot-10 Chris Oakes being added to the team as a redshirt in December after transferring in from Pepperdine. That squad finished 5-25 overall, 4-12 in the Western Athletic Conference. Ayon's presence certainly would have produced more victories but how many is simply conjecture. The question of would Oakes have come if Ayon was present is valid if unknowable.

In 2007-2008 with Ayon but a dream, 6-10 Clint Amberry was added to the roster alongside Oakes, who would gain his eligibility in mid-December, CJ Webster and Caballero. Amberry ultimately redshirted the season but it appeared SJSU was finally going to have some size, bulk and hopefully depth available in the frontcourt. But again, like with Oakes, would Webster have chose SJSU with Ayon's presence?

That 2007-2008 team finished 13-19 overall and 5-13 in conference (counting the tournament) yet with five players averaging double figures: Webster 11.3, Pierce 11.2, Graham 10.7, Oakes 10.3 and DaShawn Wright at 10.1. How would the presence of Ayon have played out? Probably not positively as Webster and Oakes would have been on the court for less minutes and Caballero might not have gotten any time. A Webster - Ayon clash for the top shot taker on the team again is conjecture but seemingly valid. Another important point to consider is that Adrian Oliver transferred in during mid-season.

Come 2008-2009, it was Oliver's team as he led in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Webster averaged 12.0 points and Oakes 8.2. It was a team that finished 13-17, 6-11 (again counting the tournament) despite the presence of Oliver, Webster, Pierce, Graham, Oakes, Wright plus Robert Owens and Mac Peterson. Simply put, this was the best opportunity for a winning season.

In the 2009-10 season, the Spartans finished 14-16, 6-11 (again counting the tournament). The wheels began coming off for Webster who averaged just 8.8 points. An eye injury took a toll as well as him no longer being the featured player. He then departed school with a year of eligibility remaining.

Granted, Ayon more than likely would not have played four years at SJSU and recruiting at the center position certainly would have been different with him on the roster. But the guy became an NBA talent -- not a star by any means but someone who is still in the Big Show, unlike Oakes and Webster.

It seems safe to say that Ayon would have aided Spartan basketball had he participated. To what degree and how long he would have remained is speculative. The question what difference, if any, would have transpired had he been present in lieu of Webster and/or Oakes in intriguing. The combination of Webster and Oakes never worked to the best potential of both but an Oakes - Ayon pairing would have been fun to see since Oakes didn't require a certain numbers of touches/shots per game in order to remain happy.

As soon as someone invents a time machine, were getting it to go back and see how the various possibilities would have played out.