Wednesday, February 6, 2013
How long can ASU keep Carson?
By Luke Lapinski
Arizona State may have been flying under the radar a little to start the season, but that's not the case anymore. Back in October, we described in this space how the Sun Devils had plenty of pieces in place to not only be an entertaining club -- but one who could pile up some wins this season as well.
As it turns out, they've done just that. Herb Sendek's squad is now 17-5 (6-3 in the Pac-12) heading into tomorrow night's tilt with California, and their offense is a major reason why. Just last year, they were averaging a meager 61.0 points per game -- No. 299 in the nation. This year, that number has shot up to 73.6 points per game.
That puts ASU at No. 50 in the nation offensively, and freshman sensation Jahii Carson has been the main catalyst. The fact that the slippery point guard is having success isn't a surprise. After all, he was a top 50 recruit coming out of high school (2011). But his teammates have responded to him in a great way, raising their games to a level that simply wasn't there a year ago. Which begs the question: just how long will Carson stay in Tempe? Jordan Bachynski, Evan Gordon and Jonathan Gilling should all be back next year, meaning the Devils could be in very good shape if their top playmaker decides to return as well. And he hinted last month that he doesn't necessarily plan on leaving right away. He hasn't shot up draft boards just yet but, if he continues to perform like this, it's only a matter of time. And, if he gets a chance to make an even bigger name for himself in March, his stock only figures to rise that much more.
