After a few weeks of preseason practices, this ASU squad is still very much a work In progress, especially with nine new faces on the team. Nonetheless, some early trends are already emerging after witnessing the initial impressions on the floor. Here’s the breakdown player by player:
Frankie Collins (returning player, 22-23 stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 apg)
Collins has lost a lot of weight. He’s on a new diet which he is taking very seriously, and it shows. He is quicker and more explosive, and in practice, he’s blowing by guys finishing around the basket. He’s physically more impressive than he was last season and is in mid-season form in that regard. You can “blame” that transformation on him entering the NBA draft (which is exited, of course) and getting in shape to impress NBA teams. This year he will be asked to be even more of a leader and be someone who will go out and win you the close games.
Jamiya Neal (returning player, 22-23 stats: 4.8 pps. 2.7 rpg)
As we know had a strong finish to the season (8.2 ppg over the last eight games), and he’s seemingly building on that in summer practices. Needless to say, if he puts on an entire season that resembles his last several games, he could be an All-Pac 12 player. He’s continuing to polish his game, shooting the ball really well, and his ball handling continues to improve. Now that he's been with the program for three years, he has to be one of the leaders and be consistent with his performance, and be, at the very least, a player who averages low double figures scoring. With nine new faces on the team, ASU will need Neal and Collins to show up every day and be the best versions of themselves.
Adam Miller (22-23 stats: 11.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg at LSU)
With the NCAA these days cracking on the two-time transfers that didn't graduate and denying immediate eligibility waivers, players such as Miller are in real danger of not seeing the floor this year for that exact reason. One can hope that the NCAA that in Miller’s case, would show leniency because two years ago, he missed the whole season due to an ACL injury. So, telling him two years later that he has still out another year due to bureaucratic red tape is a bit much.
Yet, if he’s eligible, he is going to be one of the starts for the Sun Devils. A very polished player who is still trying to get some of his explosiveness he had before the ACL injury two years ago. But has shown great ability in finding ways to score, and creating his own shot, displaying a scoring prowess that ASU lost in DJ Horne and Desmond Cambridge. He can be a very dangerous player on offense.
Braelon Green (true freshman)
For a true freshman Green has looked very well in practice, and not dealing with any injuries (he does have a history there) these days is the first time in a long time that he's been healthy and is in his best shape ever. He’s a big, athletic guard and could develop into a good shooter. He brings a lot of intangibles to the table. If Adam Miller is ruled ineligible this year since he’s a non-graduate who is a two-time transfer, we could see Green get a higher number of minutes than expected.
There will be a lot of natural comparisons to Austin Nunez, who departed ASU after one year. Green is different, first of all, due to his bigger size, length, and better speed. At the same time, doesn't have that change of speed or change of direction abilities that Nunez has. Green represents Hurley’s desire to have bigger guards and, overall, a bigger team. Green can certainly fulfill Nunez’s shoes, but you can’t forget that Nunez was a very effective specialist off the bench, and you knew what you're getting from him every game. He was an elite defender, generated turnovers, and would make his open shots. He also proved that he can run the team. Hard to say yet if Green will be able to duplicate that out of the gates. Green is someone who’s good at everything and not a master of one specific skill. Nunez may have not had the same depth of skill arsenal, but in the aforementioned traits, he was elite.
Malachi Davis (22-23 stats: 17.1 ppg, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range at Tallahassee Community College)
He was an absolute phenom at the junior college level. Can he successfully make the jump to the high-major level? The million-dollar question, to say the least. In practices, his talent and skills are evident. With his build and style of play will remind you a little bit of former ASU guard Alonzo Verge. Now, Verge was able to handle the physicality of the game at this level right away. Davis has a considerable amount of weight to put on, and since this game isn’t played with zero contact, and that will be a challenge for him. If Miller is ineligible to play this year, then a lot more will be asked from Davis rather than just providing a speak off the bench, a role that Verge did very, very well, winning Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year.
Brycen Long (22-23 stats: 13.5 ppg on 43.4 percent shooting, 41.6 percent from three-point range at Houston Christan)
Plan and simple, Long was brought in as a specialist, as he was one of the better shooters available in the portal. He could shine in the (limited) opportunities given to him when the staff starts implementing their offense and can run some set plays for him. He can also space along the perimeter and catch and shoot three-pointers. Being the lead scorer at Houston Christian, he's seen every type of defense already. So ironically, he could maybe even find playing at this level a little bit easier, at least on the offensive end, because teams aren't going to be gearing up or necessarily preparing for him. He’ll be labeled as a shooter, and people will move on when they read the scouting report. While offensively he could help, and he will have to be effective also when it isn’t a catch-and-shoot situation, can he make the adjustment defensively to this level? That ultimately could really determine his playing time.
Kamari Lands (22-23 stats: 5.9 ppg at Louisville)
At 6-8 220 lbs. has great size and great shooting touch. All in all, he looks like the prototypical forward in the Pac-12. And some teams won’t have players his size at the forward spot, so he can create a mismatch. He really could be the wildcard among the newcomers. A perfect fit for a league such as the Pac-12, but coming from a team in Louisville that won only four games last year, has to shift to a different mentality. At the same time, if that program was better, he probably would have produced better numbers and be more of an impact player in the minutes he was playing. If he can be more consistent, at worst, you have one hell of reserve you can count on each game.
Frankie Collins (returning player, 22-23 stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 apg)
Collins has lost a lot of weight. He’s on a new diet which he is taking very seriously, and it shows. He is quicker and more explosive, and in practice, he’s blowing by guys finishing around the basket. He’s physically more impressive than he was last season and is in mid-season form in that regard. You can “blame” that transformation on him entering the NBA draft (which is exited, of course) and getting in shape to impress NBA teams. This year he will be asked to be even more of a leader and be someone who will go out and win you the close games.
Jamiya Neal (returning player, 22-23 stats: 4.8 pps. 2.7 rpg)
As we know had a strong finish to the season (8.2 ppg over the last eight games), and he’s seemingly building on that in summer practices. Needless to say, if he puts on an entire season that resembles his last several games, he could be an All-Pac 12 player. He’s continuing to polish his game, shooting the ball really well, and his ball handling continues to improve. Now that he's been with the program for three years, he has to be one of the leaders and be consistent with his performance, and be, at the very least, a player who averages low double figures scoring. With nine new faces on the team, ASU will need Neal and Collins to show up every day and be the best versions of themselves.
Adam Miller (22-23 stats: 11.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg at LSU)
With the NCAA these days cracking on the two-time transfers that didn't graduate and denying immediate eligibility waivers, players such as Miller are in real danger of not seeing the floor this year for that exact reason. One can hope that the NCAA that in Miller’s case, would show leniency because two years ago, he missed the whole season due to an ACL injury. So, telling him two years later that he has still out another year due to bureaucratic red tape is a bit much.
Yet, if he’s eligible, he is going to be one of the starts for the Sun Devils. A very polished player who is still trying to get some of his explosiveness he had before the ACL injury two years ago. But has shown great ability in finding ways to score, and creating his own shot, displaying a scoring prowess that ASU lost in DJ Horne and Desmond Cambridge. He can be a very dangerous player on offense.
Braelon Green (true freshman)
For a true freshman Green has looked very well in practice, and not dealing with any injuries (he does have a history there) these days is the first time in a long time that he's been healthy and is in his best shape ever. He’s a big, athletic guard and could develop into a good shooter. He brings a lot of intangibles to the table. If Adam Miller is ruled ineligible this year since he’s a non-graduate who is a two-time transfer, we could see Green get a higher number of minutes than expected.
There will be a lot of natural comparisons to Austin Nunez, who departed ASU after one year. Green is different, first of all, due to his bigger size, length, and better speed. At the same time, doesn't have that change of speed or change of direction abilities that Nunez has. Green represents Hurley’s desire to have bigger guards and, overall, a bigger team. Green can certainly fulfill Nunez’s shoes, but you can’t forget that Nunez was a very effective specialist off the bench, and you knew what you're getting from him every game. He was an elite defender, generated turnovers, and would make his open shots. He also proved that he can run the team. Hard to say yet if Green will be able to duplicate that out of the gates. Green is someone who’s good at everything and not a master of one specific skill. Nunez may have not had the same depth of skill arsenal, but in the aforementioned traits, he was elite.
Malachi Davis (22-23 stats: 17.1 ppg, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range at Tallahassee Community College)
He was an absolute phenom at the junior college level. Can he successfully make the jump to the high-major level? The million-dollar question, to say the least. In practices, his talent and skills are evident. With his build and style of play will remind you a little bit of former ASU guard Alonzo Verge. Now, Verge was able to handle the physicality of the game at this level right away. Davis has a considerable amount of weight to put on, and since this game isn’t played with zero contact, and that will be a challenge for him. If Miller is ineligible to play this year, then a lot more will be asked from Davis rather than just providing a speak off the bench, a role that Verge did very, very well, winning Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year.
Brycen Long (22-23 stats: 13.5 ppg on 43.4 percent shooting, 41.6 percent from three-point range at Houston Christan)
Plan and simple, Long was brought in as a specialist, as he was one of the better shooters available in the portal. He could shine in the (limited) opportunities given to him when the staff starts implementing their offense and can run some set plays for him. He can also space along the perimeter and catch and shoot three-pointers. Being the lead scorer at Houston Christian, he's seen every type of defense already. So ironically, he could maybe even find playing at this level a little bit easier, at least on the offensive end, because teams aren't going to be gearing up or necessarily preparing for him. He’ll be labeled as a shooter, and people will move on when they read the scouting report. While offensively he could help, and he will have to be effective also when it isn’t a catch-and-shoot situation, can he make the adjustment defensively to this level? That ultimately could really determine his playing time.
Kamari Lands (22-23 stats: 5.9 ppg at Louisville)
At 6-8 220 lbs. has great size and great shooting touch. All in all, he looks like the prototypical forward in the Pac-12. And some teams won’t have players his size at the forward spot, so he can create a mismatch. He really could be the wildcard among the newcomers. A perfect fit for a league such as the Pac-12, but coming from a team in Louisville that won only four games last year, has to shift to a different mentality. At the same time, if that program was better, he probably would have produced better numbers and be more of an impact player in the minutes he was playing. If he can be more consistent, at worst, you have one hell of reserve you can count on each game.
