It hasn’t been the best season for Arizona State basketball. They did beat a Marquette squad that was ranked at the time. However, ASU has suffered a couple bad losses in the non-conference to counter-balance that.
The Sun Devils came to visit the nation’s third largest market/city. And the Arizona State basketball team’s visit to DePaul attracted the attention of NBA scouts from numerous teams, including: Bucks, Thunder, Heat, Warriors, Lakers, Pacers, 2 guys from the Wizards, Cavaliers, Pistons, Raptors, Clippers…well you get the idea.
The guys representing the league were there to see ASU Point Guard Jahii Carson and Center Jordan Bachynski. This contest, the marquee non-conference game for DePaul this season attracted scouts, but it did not bring out college basketball fans.
See the picture below:
Man, unless you live in North Carolina, Kansas, Indiana or Kentucky, your people DO NOT CARE about preconference college basketball. I guess Chicago wasn’t that interested in Arizona State basketball. We’ve talked enough already about DPU attendance issues. Although, to be fair, when you have an arena adjacent to the world’s busiest airport and it’s literally 12 degrees at game time. Not to mention the tip-off is during rush hour, well….no wonder no one at all shows up. My commute was 85 minutes, when Google Maps says it should take 29 minutes in normal time.
Those who braved the journey saw Arizona State basketball slog through a lackluster first half. The Sun Devils had just a five point lead at halftime over the Blue Demons in the match-up of the damned. Literally. Demons vs. Devils, it was an unholy Big East versus Pac 12 challenge. Still, Carson has 13 in the first half, and you quickly understood why there was more NBA scouts here than fans.
Not literally of course. But close.
Looking at the two guys from Arizona State basketball likely being taken in the 2014 NBA draft, it’s all about size. One guy has tremendous talent, but is way too small. The other has a ton of size going for him and that’s pretty much it! Jahii Carson is lightning fast. The scouts I talked to marveled at his quickness. He’s listed as 5’10” which means he’s actually even shorter than that. Carson has been the focal point of Arizona State basketball; as he goes so do the Sun Devils. The best case scenario for Carson at the next level is becoming a Tyus Edney, Dee Brown or T.J. Ford type player. His speed will have to make up for his lack of height.
In Bachynski I see a project pick. Like Meyers Leonard, Steven Adams, Hasheem Thabeet, Shawn Bradley, Alex Len etc. etc. etc. etc. he’ll get drafted WAY HIGHER than he deserves to just because of his height. While Carson showed what he means to Arizona State basketball on this night, Bachynski was a non-factor. ASU eventually pulled away in the second half, and ended up blowing the Blue Demons out.
Here below you’ll see where we have the Arizona State basketball duo slotted in our NBA mock draft.
For the full second round mock
For the full first round mock
34. Washington- Jahii Carson, PG, Arizona State basketball, 5-10, So.
A speedy, athletic, scoring point guard, size will be the biggest concern for Jahii Carson.
51. Memphis- Jordan Bachynski, C, Arizona State basketball, 7-2, Sr.
His size alone makes him an intriguing second round prospect.
DePaul Coach Oliver Purnell on Arizona State basketball players Carson and Bachynski:
Bachynski- “you gotta move him around and then you have a chance…even though he didn’t score a lot, they get the ball to him.”
Carson- “he’s a terrific guard and they put him in a lot of pick-and-roll situations and he’s very good at it.”
On game-planning/defending Carson:
“You gotta guard him as a team, we try to keep the ball in his left hand because he’s so good at going to the basket with his right hand.”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan