Arizona State Basketball: 2019 big man Jalen Graham commits to Sun Devils
Arizona State Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley receives a commitment from another 2019 recruit in Jalen Graham.
Three-star recruit Jalen Graham verbally committed to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Dec. 21, per Evan Daniels of 247 Sports. The Phoenix native decided that ASU was the place for him after visiting the campus earlier in the day.
“I love the coaching staff,” Graham told 247 Sports. “I love how I can still be home with my family. Also, love how the program is on the up.”
The 6-foot-9 senior center chose ASU over Grand Canyon, Nevada, and Grand Canyon. He had 15 total offers despite being a late riser. Graham originally committed to Santa Clara Oct. 10, 2018.
Graham did not play organized basketball until his freshman year and didn’t join the varsity team at Phoenix’s Mountain Pointe High School until his junior season. He didn’t generate any college interest until this past spring when he played for TeamWhyNot, a California-based AAU program.
Graham has decent size and length with upside, particularly on the defensive end. He is a solid rebounder and rim protector. Graham is currently averaging 16.3 with 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 4.5 blocks and one steal in 12 high school games at Mountain Pointe.
Graham is Hurley’s third recruit in his 2019 class. Four-star point guard Jaelen House and junior college shooting guard Alonzo Verge Jr. 247 Sports currently ranks the Sun Devils class as the sixth-best in the Pac-12 and 39th in the nation. Last year, Hurley brought in the third-best recruiting class in the conference and 39th best in the nation.
Luguentz Dort, a top-80 2018 recruit, is leading the Sun Devils (8-2) this season. The 6-foot-4 combo guard is averaging 19.8 points and 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. The Sun Devils are a very young team as 12 of the 17 players currently on their roster are either freshmen or sophomores. Five of the team’s top-six scorers are either freshmen or sophomores. Senior forward Zylon Cheatham, who ranks second in the Pac-12 with 10.1 boards a game, is the only upperclassmen among the top-six scorers. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils’ top 2018 recruit Taeshon Cherry, a 6-foot-8 forward, is making quality contributions.
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Hurley has done a solid job trying to get the Sun Devils back to relevance. ASU made the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Hurley last season. He has a 58-48 record at Arizona State, although the fourth-year coach is just 20-32 in Pac-12 play. Overall, Hurley is in his sixth season as a head coach with a 100-68 record overall.