Arizona State Last season: 15-18. Nickname: Sun Devils Coach: Bobby Hurley. Conference: Pac-12. Who’s gone: G Torian Graham, F Obinna Oleka, F Sam Cunliffe. Who’s back: G Tra Holder has matured into one of the conference’s top floor leaders, a
Arizona State
Last season: 15-18.
Nickname: Sun Devils
Coach: Bobby Hurley.
Conference: Pac-12.
Who’s gone: G Torian Graham, F Obinna Oleka, F Sam Cunliffe.
Who’s back: G Tra Holder has matured into one of the conference’s top floor leaders, a point guard who can facilitate or score. G Shannon Evans can score in bunches and knows Hurley’s system well after following him from Buffalo. G Kodi Justice can do a little bit of everything, whether it’s knocking down long 3s, bringing the crowd to its feet with a behind-the-back pass or guard 7-footers in the post. Big man Ramon Villa was steady as a backup last season and should give Hurley solid minutes again this year.
Who’s new: Forwards Romello White and Vitaliy Shibel change Arizona State’s frontcourt dynamic after sitting out last season. White, an academic redshirt a year ago, is active and tenacious. Shibel is athletic, can shoot from the perimeter and should be healthy after tearing his ACL last season. Junior college transfer De’Quon Lake is long and springy, top recruit Kimani Lawrence adds to frontcourt depth and former Ohio State forward Mickey Mitchell should have an impact after sitting out the first eight games due to transfer rules.
The Skinny: The Sun Devils should move toward the upper half of the Pac-12 after adding much-needed frontcourt depth to go with its trio of senior guards. A postseason bid, maybe even the NCAA Tournament, could be within the Sun Devils’ reach if things fall right.
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