Jaron Hopkins: The Wait is Over

Editor's Note: This feature is the first in a season-long series showcasing Fresno State men's basketball student-athletes as player profiles for www.GoBulldogs.com. Jaron Hopkins and Paul Watson will join coach Rodney Terry as Fresno State's representatives at the 2016 Mountain West Media Days on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

FRESNO, Calif. – The wait is over for Jaron Hopkins, who is poised to assume a significant and likely starting role in the Fresno State men's basketball team's backcourt for the 2016-17 season.

Hopkins, a redshirt junior 6-6 guard from Mesa, Ariz., can play multiple positions in the backcourt, including point guard, and has been anxiously waiting to show the Red Wave his explosive offensive skill set and toughness on defense. He is a confident and tenacious competitor with Pac-12 experience as a 26-game starter for the Colorado Buffaloes over two seasons before transferring to Fresno State.

As the Bulldogs enter their final month before the start of non-conference play, Hopkins' main focus is squarely set on doing whatever is necessary to lead Fresno State to another Mountain West championship and back to the NCAA Tournament.

The Fresno State men's basketball program has proven to be gritty, tough and defensively sound in a conference where nothing less can be expected if you want to make a run at a MW championship. Hopkins, who sat out last season due to NCAA guidelines on transfers, believes that it will take everything they have to defend their title and he is willing to give just that.

"After winning the Mountain West last year, I feel like we need to keep that going and do big things this year," Hopkins said. "I'm looking forward to sustaining the winning tradition. There aren't any easy games in our conference. We have to bring our best effort and play to the best of our ability every single game."

With Fresno State in the middle of preseason practice, the redshirt junior is confident his experience in the Pac-12 Conference will help his team succeed in the Mountain West.

"The Pac-12 is a really good conference and I got a lot of starting experience guarding top-notch players that have gone on to play in the NBA," Hopkins said.

Hopkins was a standout at Dobson High School in Mesa, Ariz., where he averaged 22.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He was recruited out of high school to play Division I basketball at Colorado, where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons appearing in 67 games before becoming a vital player in practice for Fresno State last year as the 'Dogs won the 2016 Mountain West championship.

This season, the Bulldogs will rely on Hopkins' leadership in the backcourt to fill the void vacated by an accomplished senior class in Marvelle Harris, Cezar Guerrero and Julien Lewis. And while it was hard for him to have to sit out last season, Hopkins embraced the opportunity to work on his game and prepare to help Fresno State sustain its success.

"Jaron is a versatile, big guard, who brings experience playing at a high level," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "Jaron has a really good basketball IQ and adds experience to our backcourt. He can handle the basketball really well, excels in the open court and can read defenses. Big guards with his talent level are hard to find and we're very fortunate to have Jaron in our program."

Paul Watson, one of the Bulldogs' returning starters and a longtime friend of Hopkins, is confident that the Colorado transfer will be a key leader and dynamic force on both ends of the floor.

"Jaron brings a strong driving presence and he can get to the rim," Watson said. "He has really good ball handling skills and that makes it hard to stay in front of him. He can play both ends of the floor. He's great defensively and has a high basketball IQ. He's going to be a huge piece in what we do this year."

Hopkins is an elite athlete, who has already earned a Top 10 play from ESPN's Sportscenter for a preseason dunk, but his athletic ability isn't limited to the basketball floor. He loves to bowl in his spare time, especially at The Bulldog Bowl on campus.

"I bowl about once every two months," Hopkins said. "It's become a hobby of mine. Back in Arizona, I even have my own bowling ball and shoes."

Hopkins started playing basketball when he was 5-years-old at his local YMCA, and his love for the game led him to play for AAU teams and met Watson when the two played for the Compton Magic when they were around 11-years-old.

"Jaron and I have been playing basketball together since the sixth grade," Watson said. "We went to different schools, but we played AAU together. Once I found out he was leaving Colorado, I called him and talked to him about the program we have here at Fresno State. I thought he would be a really good fit for our team. I even showed him around on his visit."

The bond between Watson and Hopkins is strong and the two can often be found in the gym together working on their game.

"I've known Paul for a long time and that made the decision to come to Fresno State that much easier," Hopkins said.

Hopkins, a communication major, is on track to graduate with his bachelor's degree in the spring and plans to pursue his master's degree in business administration at Fresno State as a fifth-year senior during the 2017-18 season.

In the future, Hopkins would like to become a basketball trainer while helping young children develop their skills and live out their basketball dreams.

"I hope the Red Wave comes out to support what our program stands for and get behind what we are trying to do this year," said Hopkins. "I'm most excited to play in front of a packed home crowd in the Save Mart Center. We have one of the best arenas in the Mountain West."

Fresno State opens the 2016-17 season on Nov. 11 versus UTSA and will also host Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 1 in an exhibition game. Both contests tip off at 7 p.m. PT.

Season Tickets, Mini-Plans on sale for the 2016-17 season

2016-17 Fresno State men's basketball season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now through www.GoBulldogs.com, the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center or by calling 559-278-DOGS.

For the best seating locations, season tickets start at $149 for adults with youth seats available for as low as $50. Premium center court seating is also available as season tickets.

Two mini-plans – a Super 6 Saturday Plan and 8-Game Family Flex Package – are also available.

The Super 6 Saturday Plan starts at $72 for adults and $60 for youth under 18, and includes all five Saturday home games during Mountain West play, along with the home non-conference game with Cal Poly on Dec. 10.

The 8-Game Family Flex Package starts at $80 per adult and $64 per youth, and must be purchased with a minimum of four seats for the package. All 15 regular season games are available (no blackouts) and fans have the flexibility to choose the games that fit your schedule with priority seating.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

Jaron Hopkins: The Wait is Over

Season Tickets, Mini-Plans on sale for the 2016-17 season

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