The Arizona State Sun Devil basketball team is one game away from ending another disappointing season. With one game left on the schedule they are guaranteed to finish last in the PAC-10 and at best six games under .500. The team has dealt with some key injuries this season but overall just didn't have the talent to compete.
That might change next season with the arrival of Jahii Carson from Mesa High School. The 5-11 point guard is ranked eighth nationally at his position. He's an extremely fast scoring guard as evidenced by his performance in the 5A-I semi-finals where he went 25-38 and scored 58 out of his team's total 82 points. Unfortunately, his team lost to Brophy who now advances to the state finals.
Carson originally committed to Oregon State in 2009 but switched to his hometown Sun Devils last May. His new coach, ASU's Herb Sendek, commented on Carson's performance after last night's win over the Oregon Ducks.
"That's an amazing number. I know how important it was for him to win the state championship but you score 58 points, that's staggering," Sendek said.
"My college coach is here, Coach Maloney from Carnegie Mellon, and I don't think I had 58 points in my career for him."
Carson will join shooting guard Corey Hawkins in the ASU back court next season. Hawkins, son of former NBA shooter Hersey Hawkins, broke the Arizona high school scoring record previously held by Mike Bibby as a senior at Goodyear Estrella Foothills.
Next season's Carson - Hawkins backcourt pairing should allow Sendek to open up the offense and play at a faster, more fan-friendly pace. That, and more importantly winning, might put this team back on the Arizona sports map.