Adam Seiko is returning for a 6th year at SDSU. Thanks to the new covid rules, he is allowed to play for a 5th year, and when including the season he redshirted as a true freshman, it will be his 6th season on the Mesa.
There is value in continuity. It is easier for players to improve and perform when they know their teammates and know the system. Seiko should benefit from that.
Seiko is not a star player, and will likely come off of the bench again this season. He is a very valuable player though, as his 3&D skill set is one of the most coveted in basketball. Star players like Matt Bradley need players like Adam Seiko around them to succeed. Someone who will not get burned on defense and can also stretch out the opponents defense. His experience can also help guys like Darrion Trammell or Elijah Saunders get accustomed to the culture at SDSU.
What does Seiko bring on defense?
Seiko is known for his defense. Since his first day on the Mesa he’s been known as a fierce defender. He is not the most flashy, he does not force a lot of turnovers, but he stays in front of his guy and prevents them from scoring.
He’s able to play that pressure defense without fouling as well. He only committed 1.7 fouls per 40 minutes last season, one of the best marks in the country. He’s the type of player to shut down an opponents best perimeter player. Between Seiko, Butler, and Trammell, opposing guards will have fits all season.
What does Seiko bring on offense?
Seiko’s offensive game is limited. He is not a great ball handler, he won’t create many shots for himself or others, he is basically limited to three point shooting. That is not a problem however, because a player who is a good shooter alone will have a greater impact than a player with any other single skill.
On top of that, Seiko is more than just a stand-still shooter. He can shoot off of movement, and off of screens as well, which makes him a dangerous threat. He’s no Jordan Schakel, but a player that can hit shots off of screens is hard to defend, and tends to draw more attention.
He finished the season shooting 40.4% from behind the arc. That type of shooter can fit in any offensive lineup. Guys like that give the defense a “pick your poison” dilemma of either letting him get an open shot, or sticking a defender to him and not being able to help elsewhere.
The downside to Seiko’s shooting is it can be streaky. Over one three game stretch he went 10-14 from deep (making all ten without a miss in between), and then over the next four games went 3-12. Overall Seiko is still a good shooter, but on a game to game basis there is a lot of variance.
The goal with Seiko is to get more consistent with his shot. That way it doesn’t disappear in key moments, like how he shot 2-12 over the last three games of the season, where the Aztecs lost two games by a total of four points.
It would be nice if he could add some other aspects to his game, but at this point he is likely the player he is going to be. There’s nothing wrong with that though. As was mentioned earlier, 3&D players are some of the most coveted in basketball. Seiko fills that role well.
He also fills the bonuses of being able to fill in for a injured starter if needed, and his experience within the program will be invaluable. Expect him to continue being one of the first players off the bench this season.
Aztec Breakdown 