With almost all of the San Jose State University basketball team currently participating in four days a week workouts for eight straight weeks this summer, there are multiple elements taking place for the assembled group:
- a getting-to-know-each-other aspect
- an absorption of knowledge through a gaining of familiarity with the offensive and defensive systems
- The players also have the chance to separate themselves from one another in the battle both for starting positions and in earning playing time in the rotation coming off the bench.
Pasha Goodarzi, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound Valley Christian High grad, decided to stay home and sign with Coach Tim Miles and Spartan men's basketball two years ago. He redshirted his initial year and finally got on the court this past season.
For the record, at this point Goodarzi and sophomore-to-be guard Jermaine Washington are the sole returnees from the entire 2024-25 roster.
Goodarzi is in the midst of these team efforts plus individual workouts, having learned what he needs to do to access greater playing time (after averaging 9.2 minutes per game in 18 contests). It's a three-pronged approach: becoming more physical, improving his shooting, and developing into being more of a playmaker.
"I've gotten physically stronger (a necessity for anyone making the jump from the prep to the collegiate ranks)," he offered. "Being a guard, you're on an island defensively and it's critical to keep your opponent in front of you. So I've worked on playing a lot of one-on-one. (With defending), a lot of it is experience. It's been a big jump for me."
"I'm always working on my shooting (coming into the program known as a long distance marksman (an SJSU need), 47 of Goodarzi's 49 shooting attempts this past season were from three-point range."
Greater accuracy from long distance creates better opportunities inside for the Spartan bigs as well as opportunities for SJSU's guards and wings when the defense is spread out. All in all, besides the one point advantage on each made shot, long distance accuracy simply creates a harder-to-defend offense. If Goodarzi can earn greater court time, the opportunity to develop a greater sense of overall rhythm is also available and that aids the probability of an increased shooting percentage. It's all intertwined.
Playmaking is another aspect Goodarzi is working to better. Called upon to be a major supplier of provide points as a high schooler, he has initially served at SJSU in a role of being a long distance threat. But that is now evolving into putting the ball on the floor and heading to the basket for a shot or drawing defenders to him and passing off to a teammate for a good look. "This summer, I've been playing in a lot of pickup games. It requires you to make reads and quick decisions which is the only way in my opinion to improve playmaking. I’ve been going to LA to play at LMU (Loyola Marymount University) against high level college players and pros."
But there is also another important facet to improvement. "I’ve always been highly skilled. Something I’ve been working on is the mental part of the game -- becoming mentally strong so my play can match the skills I have."
On the academic side, Goodarzi is majoring in Business Entrepreneurship offering "it's hard to balance all the academic work with basketball but I do it." In his employment favor is that he's certainly located in the most promising geographic area for applying what will be the academic title on his degree.
The Big Four in San Jose State's backcourt of last season—Donovan Yap, Will McClendon, Josh Uduje and Latrell Davis—have either transferred or completed their eligibility so playing time is definitely available to be earned. Granted incoming guard transfers JaVaughn Hannah and Colby Garland will provide stiff competition and one more backcourter will likely be signed.
As a poster at one of the SJSU men's baskeball message boards recently wrote, his expectation is that Goodarzi will average 9.0 points per game in the upcoming season. Goodarzi is preparing the best he knows how, up for the challenge.