KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches released the 2022-23 NABC Division I All-District Teams as voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I and Desmond Cambridge Jr. was recognized for his incredible season.
Cambridge Jr. has been one of the best players in the Pac-12 and earns a spot on the NABC Division I All-District 19 Second Team. He has been a key reason behind Arizona State's push to earn a NCAA Tournament berth. Cambridge Jr. will lead the Sun Devils against No. 6 TCU on Friday at 7:05 PM MST on TruTV.
TROPHY CASE
In addition to his NABC All-District distinction, Cambridge Jr. also landed on the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team. He led the Pac-12 in Player of the Week Awards, as he was one of only two players in the conference that was recognized three times. The only other player to do so is the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA), who is also a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Wooden Award.
He is the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in the same season since Carrick Felix also earned three weekly honors during the 2012-13 season. Dating back to when the award was first given out in 1984, Cambridge Jr. is only the fourth Sun Devil to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in a season. He is now tied for third in program history with three career Pac-12 weekly conference honors despite spending only one season in Tempe, trailing only Eddie House (5) and Ike Diogu (4).
After a fantastic effort at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament, Cambridge Jr. earned one of five spots on the All-Tournament Team. He helped lead Arizona State to only their fourth semifinal appearance in program history, dropping 27 points in the quarterfinal victory over USC. It is the most points scored in a game by a Sun Devil this season.
MILESTONE MOMENT
Fifth-year guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. reached a significant milestone in a win over Washington earlier in the season. He surpassed 2,000 career points, becoming the 10th active player in the NCAA to reach the mark. His 2,303 points rank 8th among active NCAA players and his 380 threes rank fifth among active players. He is one of three active players with over 2,300 points and 622 rebounds in his career and has played the fewest games of anyone to accomplish the feat. Cambridge Jr. also ranks 26th in career steals (193) and 50th in career blocks (144) among active players.
In 33 games played during the regular season, Cambridge Jr. has been indispensable in the biggest moments for ASU. He is the leading scorer for the Maroon and Gold, averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He also is third in the Pac-12 averaging 1.7 steals per game, recording three or more steals on seven occasions.
Cambridge Jr. has 30 straight contests with a made three-pointer, the most in the Pac-12. He is the only Sun Devil in the last 20 seasons to record at least one made three pointer in at least 30 consecutive games, with only players like Jonathan Giling (29, 2012-13) Christian Polk (28, 2006-07) and DJ Horne (26, 2021-22) the only other ones to come close.
On 23 occasions this season, Cambridge Jr. has scored in double figures including seven outings dropping at least 20 points. ASU is 17-7 when Cambridge Jr. scores at least 10 points and 11-2 when he drops 17 or more.
He has also provided Sun Devil nation with some historic and iconic shots that changed the trajectory of individual contests and the ASU season.
Cambridge Jr. stamped his name into one of the most historic rivalries in college basketball when he sank a halfcourt heave and the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats in 2.3 seconds at the Mckale Memorial Center. He hit two threes and scored eight points in the final three minutes as part of ASU's 21-10 scoring edge in the final 6:30 of regulation, securing a signature win for Sun Devil Men's Basketball.
The moment was SportsCenter's No. 1 play of the night, as called by Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on the Sun Devil Radio Network.
It was not the first time Cambridge Jr.'s shot making had buried the opposition. Arizona State led Creighton by six at the half on a neutral floor in Las Vegas, before the Bluejays roared back and embarked on a 21-point swing that included a 16-0 run in the second half with Cambridge Jr. on the bench due to foul trouble.
Following the Creighton run, and with ASU down 11, Cambridge. Jr. scored 12 straight Sun Devil points - all on three pointers - including two triples in less than 30 seconds.
Sun Devil Men's Basketball won the contest, with Cambridge Jr. scoring his game-high 19 points in a mere 18 minutes. It was the eighth win in a row for ASU and one of a team-high 11 times that he led the Sun Devils in scoring this season. Cambridge Jr. has also led Arizona State in assists four times and steals in seven contests, both second highest in the category for the Sun Devils.
UP NEXT
Sun Devil Men's Basketball faces No. 6 seed TCU in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Friday at Ball Arena. Winners of three of their last four including a resounding 98-73 victory over Nevada in the NCAA First Four yesterday, Arizona State (23-12) looks to continue their recent success in a matchup with a talented TCU squad. The winner will play the winner of the No. 3 Gonzaga/No. 14 Grand Canyon first round contest.
HOW TO FOLLOW
ASU's game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament will be broadcasted on TruTV, scheduled for a 7:05 PM MST tip-off. Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst) Avery Johnson (analyst), and Andy Katz (sideline) will be on the call. Every NCAA Tournament game will air on the Turner family of networks, which includes CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
Cambridge Jr. has been one of the best players in the Pac-12 and earns a spot on the NABC Division I All-District 19 Second Team. He has been a key reason behind Arizona State's push to earn a NCAA Tournament berth. Cambridge Jr. will lead the Sun Devils against No. 6 TCU on Friday at 7:05 PM MST on TruTV.
TROPHY CASE
In addition to his NABC All-District distinction, Cambridge Jr. also landed on the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team. He led the Pac-12 in Player of the Week Awards, as he was one of only two players in the conference that was recognized three times. The only other player to do so is the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA), who is also a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Wooden Award.
He is the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in the same season since Carrick Felix also earned three weekly honors during the 2012-13 season. Dating back to when the award was first given out in 1984, Cambridge Jr. is only the fourth Sun Devil to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in a season. He is now tied for third in program history with three career Pac-12 weekly conference honors despite spending only one season in Tempe, trailing only Eddie House (5) and Ike Diogu (4).
After a fantastic effort at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament, Cambridge Jr. earned one of five spots on the All-Tournament Team. He helped lead Arizona State to only their fourth semifinal appearance in program history, dropping 27 points in the quarterfinal victory over USC. It is the most points scored in a game by a Sun Devil this season.
MILESTONE MOMENT
Fifth-year guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. reached a significant milestone in a win over Washington earlier in the season. He surpassed 2,000 career points, becoming the 10th active player in the NCAA to reach the mark. His 2,303 points rank 8th among active NCAA players and his 380 threes rank fifth among active players. He is one of three active players with over 2,300 points and 622 rebounds in his career and has played the fewest games of anyone to accomplish the feat. Cambridge Jr. also ranks 26th in career steals (193) and 50th in career blocks (144) among active players.
In 33 games played during the regular season, Cambridge Jr. has been indispensable in the biggest moments for ASU. He is the leading scorer for the Maroon and Gold, averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He also is third in the Pac-12 averaging 1.7 steals per game, recording three or more steals on seven occasions.
Cambridge Jr. has 30 straight contests with a made three-pointer, the most in the Pac-12. He is the only Sun Devil in the last 20 seasons to record at least one made three pointer in at least 30 consecutive games, with only players like Jonathan Giling (29, 2012-13) Christian Polk (28, 2006-07) and DJ Horne (26, 2021-22) the only other ones to come close.
On 23 occasions this season, Cambridge Jr. has scored in double figures including seven outings dropping at least 20 points. ASU is 17-7 when Cambridge Jr. scores at least 10 points and 11-2 when he drops 17 or more.
He has also provided Sun Devil nation with some historic and iconic shots that changed the trajectory of individual contests and the ASU season.
Cambridge Jr. stamped his name into one of the most historic rivalries in college basketball when he sank a halfcourt heave and the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats in 2.3 seconds at the Mckale Memorial Center. He hit two threes and scored eight points in the final three minutes as part of ASU's 21-10 scoring edge in the final 6:30 of regulation, securing a signature win for Sun Devil Men's Basketball.
The moment was SportsCenter's No. 1 play of the night, as called by Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on the Sun Devil Radio Network.
The CBS footage with commentary from @TimHealeyASU and @K_Dodd3 on @SunDevilRadio -- great call, solid analysis and a touch of foreshadowing. pic.twitter.com/LCBtYJ6ExI
— Vince Marotta (@Vincemarotta) February 25, 2023
It was not the first time Cambridge Jr.'s shot making had buried the opposition. Arizona State led Creighton by six at the half on a neutral floor in Las Vegas, before the Bluejays roared back and embarked on a 21-point swing that included a 16-0 run in the second half with Cambridge Jr. on the bench due to foul trouble.
Following the Creighton run, and with ASU down 11, Cambridge. Jr. scored 12 straight Sun Devil points - all on three pointers - including two triples in less than 30 seconds.
How did he make that!?!?!? ??@dezcambridgejr hits back-to-back threes at a crucial time!
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022
?? @FS1
?? https://t.co/1KZO9Zi3pd pic.twitter.com/YKxuv71q8a
Sun Devil Men's Basketball won the contest, with Cambridge Jr. scoring his game-high 19 points in a mere 18 minutes. It was the eighth win in a row for ASU and one of a team-high 11 times that he led the Sun Devils in scoring this season. Cambridge Jr. has also led Arizona State in assists four times and steals in seven contests, both second highest in the category for the Sun Devils.
Welcome to the @dezcambridgejr takeover!
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022
?? @FS1
?? https://t.co/1KZO9Zi3pd pic.twitter.com/z2BqcQjDmF
UP NEXT
Sun Devil Men's Basketball faces No. 6 seed TCU in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Friday at Ball Arena. Winners of three of their last four including a resounding 98-73 victory over Nevada in the NCAA First Four yesterday, Arizona State (23-12) looks to continue their recent success in a matchup with a talented TCU squad. The winner will play the winner of the No. 3 Gonzaga/No. 14 Grand Canyon first round contest.
HOW TO FOLLOW
ASU's game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament will be broadcasted on TruTV, scheduled for a 7:05 PM MST tip-off. Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst) Avery Johnson (analyst), and Andy Katz (sideline) will be on the call. Every NCAA Tournament game will air on the Turner family of networks, which includes CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.