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ASU basketball lands big-time California recuit
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Concerns about new ASU basketball coach Herb Sendek’s lack of West Coast ties apparently can be put to rest. That’s because the Sun Devils have landed a big-time basketball recuit: James Harden, a 6-foot-4 off guard who is among the most highly touted players ever landed by the school.
Harden, from Artesia High School in Lakewood, Ca. said he chose ASU over Washington on Wednesday morning.
Washington already had players at his position, while “Arizona State thought I could come in as a freshman and play a lot,” Harden said.
Harden visited ASU in late June, “And I felt very comfortable there.”
ASU has only made the NCAA tournament three times since 1981, a fact that caused Harden “a little bit” of hesitation.
But, he pointed to Sendek’s last coaching job and said, “I watched a couple of North Carolina State games and saw the way coach Sendek coached. I feel he can do some things in the Pac-10.”
Harden will be a senior at Artesia High School in Lakewood, Ca. He averaged 18.8 points and 7.9 rebounds.
He is the first player in next year’s Sun Devil class. He is ranked No. 31 in his class nationally by Scout.com.
ASU hired his high school coach, Scott Pera early in the summer to be an assistant coach in charge of operations.
“But he told me, ‘Just because I went there doesn’t mean you have to go there,’” Harden said.
“But at the end of the day, it was ASU.”
Harden will be a freshman next year, the same year Eric Boateng, a big man who is transferring from Duke, will become eligible to play.
ASU also is trying to land Jamelle McMillan, a point guard and son of Nate McMillan, the longtime NBA player and coach. He is a 6-2 point guard from Seattle.
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