Gone: Stone, Berger announce departure from USU basketball
Utah State men’s basketball head coach Stew Morrill announced on Tuesday that center Jordan Stone and forward Danny Berger will not be returning for their senior seasons.
The announcement comes in light of the lowest point output of Morrill’s time coaching the Aggies as they lost 73-39 to San Diego State in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament. USU also loses five players to graduation this season in Preston Medlin, Tenale Roland, Spencer Butterfield, Sean Harris and Jarred Shaw.
Morrill cited Stone’s reason for leaving as graduation, because he is set to graduate this summer. Berger’s reason for leaving is a search for playing time elsewhere.
“We wish Jordan and Danny nothing but the best,” Morrill said. “We greatly appreciate their contributions to Utah State basketball.”
Stone and Shaw were the only centers on the active roster this season, though the Aggies have been recruiting other centers. Stone played in all 32 games this season and averaged 11.9 minutes per game, 2.7 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Berger played in 28 of the Aggies 32 games this season and averaged 3.2 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game and .8 assists per game. Berger received a medical redshirt last season after collapsing in full cardiac arrest in a practice in early December. The team wore a patch with Berger’s jersey number 12 for the remainder of the season to honor the forward.
With Stone and Berger’s departures, USU will have seven players returning next season who either played or redshirted this season.
— dahdahjm@gmail.com
Twitter: @dahdahUSU