No, players from your team transfer in college basketball.
Memo: it is time to get over it. It happens and it happens a lot. Happens to your team. And his. And hers, and you usually get some yourself. And they make moves like this...
Shannon Evans created about nine feet of space with this move. pic.twitter.com/VfxGgGHudC
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) November 25, 2017
There are more than 700 transfers in Division I college hoops this season (and this number might be closer to 1,000 by now). If you think your coach and team should be immune to it, guess what, your team also isn't the only one that blew a lead, missed a free throw or lost a game it should have won. This is happening to everyone. The NCAA has made guidelines more student-athlete friendly, and that is a good thing, as people can play closer to home, play on a bigger stage or play on a smaller stage.
So rather than dwell on players who a) probably didn't play much; b) probably didn't think they were going to play; c) want to play more; or d) just want to play closer to home….how about the impact made by Sun Devils who transferred from another Division I school to Tempe recently?
Let's fill your Sparky mug with some memories of some Sun Devils who played at another Division I school, came to ASU, and me thinks you are quite happy they did.
Let the fun…and buckets, dunks, and big wins…memories begin. Reminder that we have two transfers joining us this year in Luther Muhammad (we are getting a good one, others say it here and here) and local talent Holland Woods (dude can get buckets).
ROB EDWARDS (2017-20 VIA CLEVELAND STATE)
Did you like the win over No. 1 Kansas in December of 2018? That was a sarcastic question. Of course you did. You loved Rob hitting the wing three-pointer to give ASU its first lead. You loved his 19 points in the 95-88 win over Arizona in 2019. You loved his work ethic which allowed him to come back from a tough injury in 2018-19.
Chalk it up!https://t.co/WPGr850Ojy
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 23, 2018
You were awesome tonight, Sun Devil Nation. Let's keep it rolling!https://t.co/FLY0FdgqUR
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 1, 2019
Rob Edwards gets buckets. Also, Rob Edwards is a Sun Devil. https://t.co/2yTc00PeAl @SunDevilTix @jeffmetcalfe @TheSunDevils @TimHealeyASU pic.twitter.com/il9XnrwLwp
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) April 25, 2017
MICKEY MITCHELL (2017-20 VIA OHIO STATE)
His comeback was complete in 2019-20 as he played in 23 games, started in 11, averaged 15.6 minutes per game and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds after injuring his back and missing most of 2018-19 (six games played). He was inserted into the starting lineup at Washington on Feb. 1 and the team ran off seven straight Pac-12 wins for the first time since 1980-81. Had seven rebounds in the big Oregon win on Feb. 20 and eight points and six rebounds in final game of season vs. Washington State. In 2017-18, after starting in the first six Pac-12 games, he came off the bench at Cal on Jan. 20 and led ASU in rebounding for the fifth time in his first 11 games. He missed the first eight games as a mid-year transfer and then averaged more than five boards in just over 22 minutes per game.
--LINK: Mickey Mitchell's hidden impact and ASU's surge to first-place in the Pac-12 (by Doug Haller, The Athletic/Feb. 23, 2020)
--LINK (PDF): Relieved of pain, Arizona State's Mickey Mitchell returns to basketball (by Michelle Gardner, azcentral.com/Jan. 9, 2020)
--LINK: ASU basketball's Mickey Mitchell using 'warrior mentality' following post-injury hiatus (by Avery Klatsky, ASU State Press/March 4, 2020)
--LINK: Senior weekend gives Sun Devils opportunity to bounce back, reach new highs (by Chris Gleason, ASUDevils.com/March 5, 2020)
--LINK: How Mickey Mitchell regained his hops (by Doug Haller, azcentral.com/Dec. 21, 2017)
ZYLAN CHEATHAM (2018-19 VIA SAN DIEGO STATE)
Cheatham came to for one season after playing at San Diego State for three years. Although he was only a Sun Devil for one year, his impact was felt on the court and in the community with incredible interactions with media and fans. A first-team All-Pac-12 pick and also an All-Pac-12 Defensive team member, he led the Pac-12 in rebounding and helped lead ASU to its second straight NCAA appearance, a first for the program since 1980-81. He posted just the second triple-double in school history. He turned in one most diversified seasons in league history as Cheatham (12.1 ppg/10.3 rpg/3.2 apg) and Wisconsin's Ethan Happ (17.3/7.8/4.5) were the only players in the nation to average a double-double and three assists per game. Dating to the 1973-74 season, when assists became official, the only other Pac-12 players to do it were Rich Kelley of Stanford in 1974-75 (20/11.5/3.0) and UCLA's Bill Walton (19.3/14.7/5.5). He also earned ASU's Bill Kajikawa Award.
Zylan Cheatham fouls out with 2:06 left.
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) March 22, 2019
During my time on this beat (10 years), I've never covered a player more universally respected, both inside and outside the program.
TORIAN GRAHAM (2016-17 VIA BUFFALO)
Green Light Graham (what a great nickname) ended the 2016-17 season as the Pac-12's top scorer in the 18 league games (18.6 ppg) and averaged 18.6 points per game in all games as well. He posted 13 20-point games on the season, including eight vs. Pac-12 teams and had career-best 32 points vs. No. 5 Oregon in his final game with seven three-pointers at the Pac-12 Tournament. Had 30 points off the bench in Pac-12 opener at Stanford on Dec. 30 as he went 12-of-17 from the field with five three-pointers. Shot 46-of-56 (.821) from the free throw line. He sat the 2015-16 season after transferring from the University of Buffalo and Chipola Junior College.
SHANNON EVANS II (2016-18 VIA BUFFALO)
Shannon Evans II closed his Sun Devil career as one of the best two-year players in Sun Devil history and put ASU on the map on November and December of 2017. He joined James Harden, Jahii Carson and Bobby Lazor as 1,000-point (1,023) Sun Devil two-year scorers, and is the top free throw shooter in Sun Devil history, making 222-of-263 (.844). Among two-year Sun Devils also finished in top-10 in scoring average (15.7/eighth), field goals (317/ninth), free throws made (222/sixth), and assists (256/sixth). His 95 three-pointers made and 256 three-pointers attempted in 2017-18 both ended fourth on the ASU single-season three-point charts. Honored by USBWA as its Dec. 10, 2017, Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week. He had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists in 82-70 win over St. John's in Los Angeles on Dec. 8. Less than 48 hours later, the Suffolk, Va., native hit five 3-pointers en route to 22 points along with five assists and no turnovers as ASU won at No. 2 Kansas.
Shannon Evans' highlight tape will just be a cycle of stepback 3s. pic.twitter.com/IFnqOuTXCg
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 11, 2018
SUN DEVIL MOST POINTS IN TWO-YEAR CAREER
1,309 , James Harden, '07-09
1,261 , Jahii Carson, '12-13
1,077 , Bobby Lazor, '97-99
1,023 , Shannon Evans II, '16-18
SAVON GOODMAN (2014-16 VIA UNLV)
Had nine double-doubles, five games of 12+ rebounds and five 20-point games in two seasons, with career-highs of 24 points vs. Lehigh (Dec. 20, 2014) and 17 rebounds at Richmond (March 22, 2015). Averaged 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 2015-16 (led team) and shot .550 from the field and helped lead ASU to wins with 17 points vs. No. 23 USC, double-double (10 points and 12 rebounds) in Dec. 5 win over No. 18 and eventual SEC co-champion Texas A&M and 23 points at Creigthon on Dec. 2. Also averaged 11.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in sophomore season (2014-15).
JERMAINE MARSHALL (2013-14 VIA PENN STATE)
Jermaine Marshall put together one of the best clutch closing offensive gems in Sun Devil history on Feb. 14, 2014, in the 69-66 win over No. 2 Arizona with 29 points. He averaged 15.3 points as ASU reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013-14. In his lone year as a Sun Devil he averaged 31.7 minutes and shot .717 from the free throw line. RIP Jermaine, his Arizona game memories will never go away.
He gave us so many big buckets en route to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Jermaine Marshall. pic.twitter.com/1kXeLwDyTZ
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 18, 2019
BO BARNES (2012-16 VIA HAWAII)
Local product Bo Barnes played in 118 games in his career, with 86 at Arizona State and 32 as a freshman at Hawaii and cored 575 points (353 at ASU). Had 71 #BoBombs (three-pointers) in his ASU career and his best and biggest game was a team high 18 points against No. 6 Arizona on Feb. 7, 2015, as the Sun Devils upset Wildcats in Tempe for second straight season. Was perfect in eight shots from the foul line and also grabbed three rebounds. His three-pointer late sealed the win. He earned first-team Pac-12 All-Academic honors in 2014-15.
Good stuff on Bo Barnes from @DougHaller http://t.co/e4aohperZH @dandickau21 @Pac12Networks @K_Dodd3 @TimHealeyASU
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 24, 2015
ERIC BOATENG (2008-10 VIA DUKE)
Eric Boateng earned his degree in Global Studies and averaged 8.8 points and 7.2 boards and shot 66.5 percent from the field (117-of-176) in 2009-10, setting an ASU record. He was one of the most improved players in the nation as he scored 57 points in 2008-09. He was 68-of-103 (.660) from the field in Pac-10 play, also best in the league. He had a monster game vs. UCLA on March 6 with 16 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and zero turnovers in 34 minutes and also notched 19 points and 13 boards vs. Cal on Jan. 28. In his final 13 games he was 60-of-86 (.698) from the floor and averaged 11.2 points and 8.8 boards with 16 blocks. He had made 14 straight shots entering the March 4 USC game, as he was the only D-I player to make 11-of-11 in D-I in a game that year when he did it at Stanford on Feb. 25. He also had career-best 24 points at Stanford on Feb. 25. ASU finished second in the Pac-10 in 2009-10 with a 12-6 record.
AWVEE STOREY (1999-2002 VIA ILLINOIS)
Chicago native Awvee Storey was one of the top rebounders in the Pac-10 in his time at ASU. At 6-6, he led the league in 2000-2001 at 9.1 rebounds per game and the player who was second, Dan Gadzuric of UCLA at 8.6 per game, was 6-11. Storey sat out the 1998-99 season after transferring following his freshman season (1997-98) at Illinois and then made an immediate impact and gave the young squad some veteran leadership despite being only a sophomore. He posted 16 double-doubles in his 85-game career and earned his Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in communications and sociology. Storey helped lead ASU to 19 wins in 1999-2000 as he started in 27 of the 29 games.
BOBBY LAZOR (1997-99 VIA SYRACUSE)
Long-time Sun Devil fans remember a true bucket getter in Bobby Lazor, who came to Syracuse to play for Bill Frieder and then played for Don Newman and Rob Evans in a three-year span. One of the top student-athletes in 1998-99 as he was named the Playboy Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete of the Year in its preseason issue and then earned GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America First-Team honors that season. Received his business marketing degree from Arizona State in December of 1998. One of the best two-year players in Arizona State history, setting Sun Devil two-year records for points (1,077) and free throws made (283). He started all 62 games in ASU career and averaged 34.4 minutes per game and was the first two-year player in ASU history to notch 1,000 points. His top scoring games were a 30-point outing vs. Washington on Jan. 7, 1999, and another 30-point game in the final regular season game on March 6, 1999 vs. USC. Ended the season fourth in the league in scoring (18.0 points per game) and sixth in rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game). As a junior, he ranked among the league's top 10 in five categories and was 12th in scoring and was named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year (Fred Hessler Award) by the Pac-10's radio play-by-play announcers. He scored 22 points in a 90-87 win at No. 4 Stanford, ASU's first over a ranked team in 15 games.