Coming off another strong recruiting class, and landing three formidable transfer players, ASU’s needs in the 2018 class are very specific and allow the Sun Devils to be selective in the players they pursue. Let’s review the more viable prospects that ASU has offered and will be tracking over the next few weeks.
The July evaluation period is divided into three segments:
July 12-16
July 19-23
July 26-30
During these segments, the ASU staff will travel from coast to coast to various AAU tournaments to evaluate prospects and also show their presence at those gyms since no in-person contact is permitted during the evaluation periods.
As a side note, the staff will have full team workouts back in Tempe in between each evaluation period, as ASU prepares for its European trip which takes place between July 31-Aug. 8.
Between the signings of the 2017 class and the three transfers it landed, ASU is at the maximum allowed 13 scholarships. With just three senior players on its roster, Tra Holder, Kodi Justice and Shannon Evans, ASU only has three scholarships to give out in the 2018 class.
Since player attrition in today’s college basketball, even after just one year of play, is becoming more and more the norm, it’s quite possible that ASU will have ultimately have more than three spots in the 2018 class.
Due to the fact that the Sun Devils are losing its entire starting backcourt, it stands to reason that the primary targets for ASU in this class would be positions 1-3, or in other words, point/combo guard, and wing players. While the focus will be on backcourt players, that’s not to say that ASU would turn down any quality frontcourt prospects they felt were truly viable recruits, let alone potential high-quality additions.
More than likely ASU will be putting more emphasis on scouting high school prospects rather than junior college players because with a high number of upperclassmen on the roster for the 2018-19 season, it would be prudent to concentrate on younger additions to your squad.
Even though ASU was very successful landing three transfers in the spring, it isn’t necessarily entering the 2018 recruiting cycle with the notion that it is planning to sign just two players, for example, in November and/or April and count on getting a transfer player in the spring of next year. Furthermore, any such transfer would in reality count towards the 2019 class, just like the three transfers the Sun Devils secured in the last couple of months were in essence part of its 2018 class.
One of those three transfers, Zylan Cheatham, is guaranteed just one more year of eligibility. The ruling on the NCAA appeal to be filed during the 2017-18 season will determine if he will gain an extra year of eligibility. What should be noted though is that Cheatham’s somewhat uncertain status won’t affect ASU’s approach regarding the 2018 class.
As a reminder, basketball has two signing periods. One runs from November 8-15, 2017 and a later period that runs from April 11-May16 2018. Some of the prospects that will be tracked the next few weeks may still elect for their own reason to sign only next year.
Here are the principal targets in the 2018 class:
Luguentz Dort – as mentioned the other day, the 6-4 Canadian guard is the primary target of ASU in the 2018 class and ASU has made serious inroads thus far with the four-star player. Dort will play with Brookwood Bounce Elite club on the adidas circuit this July, and yes, the fact that it’s an adidas club does help ASU’s prospects.
According to Recruiting Analyst Corey Evans, Dort is a “hard-playing, well-rounded combo guard that can create for others and himself, but also has the toughness, size, and strength to guard each perimeter position.”
Marcus Zegarowski – visited Tempe a couple of weeks ago and is another prime target of the Sun Devils who offered the 6-1 guard in early June. The former AAU teammate of ASU freshman Kimani Lawrence, which is helping Arizona State. Zegarowski who is the half-brother of Chicago Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams is a sturdy point guard with good shooting touch.
Demarius Jacobs – we talked at length how much ASU would like to establish a pipeline to local Hillcrest Academy. After securing the commitment of 2020 prospect Kyree Walker from that program, the Sun Devils would not mind at all to have the same luck with this 6-2 guard. The Sun Devils represent Jacobs’ lone high-major offer, and time will tell if that would still be the case a month or so from now.
National Recruiting Analyst, Eric Bossi, previously described Jacobs as athletic but also a tough player who has “a nose for the ball to make plays all over the floor. He's a high energy guy all the way who has some range on his jumper and is a bouncy finisher.”
Devonaire Doutrive – ASU is the only high-major offer for the 6-5 Los Angles guard. If you recall ASU was also pursuing his younger brother, Devante whose academic issues prevented him from finding a home yet with any team. Devonaire, on the other hand, is further ahead with his academics and obviously has already great familiarity with ASU. He may not be as high up on the board as others, but a name to keep mind down the stretch.
Trey Woodbury – one of the more notable western region spring risers in this class, and ASU is hoping that the early and often attention they have given this Las Vegas guard will pay off. At 6-4 Woodbury has very good size for a guard, along with a solid jump shot and good handles.
The July evaluation period is divided into three segments:
July 12-16
July 19-23
July 26-30
During these segments, the ASU staff will travel from coast to coast to various AAU tournaments to evaluate prospects and also show their presence at those gyms since no in-person contact is permitted during the evaluation periods.
As a side note, the staff will have full team workouts back in Tempe in between each evaluation period, as ASU prepares for its European trip which takes place between July 31-Aug. 8.
Between the signings of the 2017 class and the three transfers it landed, ASU is at the maximum allowed 13 scholarships. With just three senior players on its roster, Tra Holder, Kodi Justice and Shannon Evans, ASU only has three scholarships to give out in the 2018 class.
Since player attrition in today’s college basketball, even after just one year of play, is becoming more and more the norm, it’s quite possible that ASU will have ultimately have more than three spots in the 2018 class.
Due to the fact that the Sun Devils are losing its entire starting backcourt, it stands to reason that the primary targets for ASU in this class would be positions 1-3, or in other words, point/combo guard, and wing players. While the focus will be on backcourt players, that’s not to say that ASU would turn down any quality frontcourt prospects they felt were truly viable recruits, let alone potential high-quality additions.
More than likely ASU will be putting more emphasis on scouting high school prospects rather than junior college players because with a high number of upperclassmen on the roster for the 2018-19 season, it would be prudent to concentrate on younger additions to your squad.
Even though ASU was very successful landing three transfers in the spring, it isn’t necessarily entering the 2018 recruiting cycle with the notion that it is planning to sign just two players, for example, in November and/or April and count on getting a transfer player in the spring of next year. Furthermore, any such transfer would in reality count towards the 2019 class, just like the three transfers the Sun Devils secured in the last couple of months were in essence part of its 2018 class.
One of those three transfers, Zylan Cheatham, is guaranteed just one more year of eligibility. The ruling on the NCAA appeal to be filed during the 2017-18 season will determine if he will gain an extra year of eligibility. What should be noted though is that Cheatham’s somewhat uncertain status won’t affect ASU’s approach regarding the 2018 class.
As a reminder, basketball has two signing periods. One runs from November 8-15, 2017 and a later period that runs from April 11-May16 2018. Some of the prospects that will be tracked the next few weeks may still elect for their own reason to sign only next year.
Here are the principal targets in the 2018 class:
Luguentz Dort – as mentioned the other day, the 6-4 Canadian guard is the primary target of ASU in the 2018 class and ASU has made serious inroads thus far with the four-star player. Dort will play with Brookwood Bounce Elite club on the adidas circuit this July, and yes, the fact that it’s an adidas club does help ASU’s prospects.
According to Recruiting Analyst Corey Evans, Dort is a “hard-playing, well-rounded combo guard that can create for others and himself, but also has the toughness, size, and strength to guard each perimeter position.”
Marcus Zegarowski – visited Tempe a couple of weeks ago and is another prime target of the Sun Devils who offered the 6-1 guard in early June. The former AAU teammate of ASU freshman Kimani Lawrence, which is helping Arizona State. Zegarowski who is the half-brother of Chicago Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams is a sturdy point guard with good shooting touch.
Demarius Jacobs – we talked at length how much ASU would like to establish a pipeline to local Hillcrest Academy. After securing the commitment of 2020 prospect Kyree Walker from that program, the Sun Devils would not mind at all to have the same luck with this 6-2 guard. The Sun Devils represent Jacobs’ lone high-major offer, and time will tell if that would still be the case a month or so from now.
National Recruiting Analyst, Eric Bossi, previously described Jacobs as athletic but also a tough player who has “a nose for the ball to make plays all over the floor. He's a high energy guy all the way who has some range on his jumper and is a bouncy finisher.”
Devonaire Doutrive – ASU is the only high-major offer for the 6-5 Los Angles guard. If you recall ASU was also pursuing his younger brother, Devante whose academic issues prevented him from finding a home yet with any team. Devonaire, on the other hand, is further ahead with his academics and obviously has already great familiarity with ASU. He may not be as high up on the board as others, but a name to keep mind down the stretch.
Trey Woodbury – one of the more notable western region spring risers in this class, and ASU is hoping that the early and often attention they have given this Las Vegas guard will pay off. At 6-4 Woodbury has very good size for a guard, along with a solid jump shot and good handles.
