Magoon Gwath is the only member of his family to have been born in the United States as the child of South Sudanese refugees.
A 7-foot freshman forward, Gwath had an impressive game, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as No. 24 San Diego State beat Fresno State 84-62 on 4 December.
Highlights
- Magoon Gwath grew up in the Dallas metroplex with his parents, who emigrated from Sudan and spent his first three years of high school there.
- The coach arranged for Gwath’s parents to visit SDSU and for him to transfer his credits, allowing him to enroll in the second summer session in early July 2023.
- Unlike many young players, his parents didn’t push him to put up big numbers, and he didn’t have to deal with handlers or middlemen.
He is the first Aztec freshman to record 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game since Kawhi Leonard in 2010.
Gwath was especially strong in the first half as he knocked down three three-pointers and contributed 11 of the Aztecs’ 29 first-half points.
In 2023, Veritas Prep coach George Zedan praised him, saying he was full of potential and was only beginning to show his capabilities. And he did it.
From The Dallas Metroplex to SDSU: Magoon Gwath’s Journey With The Support Of His Immigrant Parents
Magoon Gwath lived in the Dallas metroplex with his Sudanese immigrant parents and attended his first three high school years there.
His three older brothers were about 6-2 or 6-3, so he thought he would be that tall too.
Similarly, he had a 5-inch growth spurt, and suddenly, he wasn’t 6-2 anymore.
Another growth spurt followed that, and then another. By the time he got to San Diego State University, he had grown an extra inch, transforming from a guard into a 7-footer.
At the same time, Veritas Prep’s George Zedan saw a video of him online last summer and called his club coach.
“I asked him, What’s the deal? He said he had a kid who was vastly underrecruited and grew 7 to 8 inches over the last couple of years and was looking for a prep school opportunity for him because he felt he needed to be seen and put on a much bigger stage.”
George Zedan
Magoon Gwath’s Parents Visit And Credit Transfer Set Up His Summer 2023 Start
Gwath came to Veritas Prep in the L.A. area in 2023 but didn’t start to put things together in his gangly body until a few months later.
The plan was to wait until 2024, but Zedan realized a college program would be better equipped to develop him and properly put weight on his rail-thin frame.
Zedan is also eminently familiar with SDSU’s program, having coached current Aztecs guard Lamont Butler and former Aztecs wing Matt Mitchell in AAU.
So, he planned for Gwath’s parents to visit SDSU for an official visit and then transfer his academic credits in time for him to enroll in the second summer school session in the first week of July 2023, when the rest of the team is expected back on campus.
The coach felt that one of Gwath’s advantages was the lack of pressure on him.
Unlike many young players, he didn’t have his parents constantly pushing him to score big numbers, nor did he deal with handlers or middlemen.
This freedom allowed him to focus solely on improving at his own pace.
After all, Magoon is a versatile player who can impact the game in multiple ways.
Depending on what’s needed, he can score inside, from the perimeter, or in the mid-range. Defensively, he’s a force, often blocking shots off the backboard.
His potential has become clear in recent games, and his teammates have also seen it in practice.
Additional Information
- Magoon Gwath attended Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, for three years before transferring to Veritas Prep.
- During his junior year at Trinity, he earned honorable mention honors in District 3-6A.
- Gwath chose San Diego State over other notable programs, including Oregon, Oregon State, Southern California, and Villanova.
