The lasting image of Ty Abbott’s 10-game career at Arizona State is of him standing alone in the corner, waiting for the ball to swing around the perimeter so he can hit another open 3-pointer while the Sun Devils blister then-No. 17 Xavier.

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Abbott, the lanky 6-foot-3 freshman from Phoenix Desert Vista High School, led the way against the Musketeers. He made 7 of 10 shots for 19 points, six rebounds, two steals and one turnover. Good enough to become the fourth ASU freshman in school history to be named Pac-10 Player of the Week.

As is the case with most freshmen, Abbott hadn’t played in a game that big in his lifetime; not even last year’s Class 5A Division I state semifinals compared.

Yet he felt ice in his veins.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Abbott said. “I just started feeling it. It happens in practice sometimes, once I get going there’s no telling when I’m going to stop. I started hitting some shots and it was over from there.”

Abbott wasn’t supposed to be here. He was a Ritchie McKay guy through and through, committing to New Mexico before his senior season.

His mother, Traci Hawkins, and younger sister, Bianca, were considering moving to Albuquerque.

Then McKay was fired as New Mexico’s coach in February. Abbott wanted out of his commitment and was released, and the process started all over again.

Given his desire to stay here, Abbott picked ASU over Washington State, Illinois and Vanderbilt.

Asked if he’s ever called to thank New Mexico for firing McKay, Sun Devils coach Herb Sendek smiled.

“I know this,” he said. “We’re grateful he’s with us and very fortunate it worked out in our favor.”

Abbott averages 10.2 points, though a bevy of outside shots (24 of his 33 field goals are 3-pointers) have cut into his efficiency. Hence, the 39 percent shooting.

There’s also his rebounding prowess (3.5 per game as a guard) and 1.2 steals per game (10th in the Pac-10).

Abbott’s quick to point out the effect Jeff Pendergraph and James Harden have in creating space and opportunity for others — notably himself and Jerren Shipp.

“He’s really starting to flourish,” Pendergraph said. “He makes people pay for keying on James and me.”

Sendek is equally quick to point out all the things that can’t be expressed in statistics. Abbott said he’s never been around a coach who remotely compares with Sendek in terms of precision or details — right down to the inch.

After years of having talent as his great compensator, Abbott had to adjust to learning from a stickler, which quickly became a prerequisite under Sendek.

“You have to get used to it, you don’t really have a choice,” Abbott said.

Abbott was sold on being part of rebuilding the local college team, and, given a second chance, he’s made a good first impression.

“He’s very precise in what he does,” Sendek said. “He doesn’t cut corners. He pays attention to details, which is something that eludes a lot of older players, but rarely do you see a young guy as precise as he is on so many things.”

Idaho at Arizona State

When: 2 p.m. today

Where: Wells Fargo Arena

Outlook:

Arizona State — The Sun Devils have a week off for the holidays before concluding the nonconference season against St. Francis (Pa.) next Saturday. Two players the Sun Devils would love to get going again are freshman point guard Jamelle McMillan and redshirt sophomore Eric Boateng. It’s been a struggle the past two games for both of them, especially with turnovers.

Idaho — This is the Vandals’ last game before the Western Athletic Conference schedule starts. Turnovers (17 per game), 3-point shooting (31.7 percent) and free throws (55.9 percent) have been three big reasons the Vandals (2-7) lost six consecutive games earlier this season, though they played top-10 teams Gonzaga and Washington State during that streak.