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By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Shawn Philips and Adam Miller are just entering their 20s, but in the Arizona State locker room, they are now considered the old heads. Philips and Miller are two of only four players remaining from last year’s ASU men’s basketball team who will embark on another campaign in the desert.
Despite massive roster upheaval – for a second consecutive offseason – coach Bobby Hurley is optimistic as the new-look Sun Devils head into their first season in the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25.
“I think we have a good mixture of experienced and skilled guys,” Hurley said. “Our shooting should be vastly improved compared to last year or just our overall ability to put the ball in the basket.”
Among the newcomers, freshman center Jayden Quaintance has been a standout throughout the summer. Only 17, Quaintance has “a scary ceiling,” Hurley said.
“You look at him and envision the prototypical physical, rugged player that plays with his back to the basket,” Hurley said. “What’s unique is, he’s more like a point guard than a center. At 6-9 (he) has a diverse skill set with his great footwork, handling the ball, gets down low, and is one of our best passers.
“He’s very advanced for someone that just turned 17 in July, and we have high hopes for him. But the reality is, he’s 17 and he’s still learning the game, and he’ll keep growing as more time passes.”
Along with Quaintance, Arizona State added 6-foot-9 forward Basheer Jihad and 6-8 forward Brandon Gardner to further bolster the front court as the Sun Devils prepare to compete in a conference that sent eight teams to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2024.
Last year, the Sun Devils utilized starting lineups with at least two players 6-8 or taller in only 15 of the 32 games they played. In those games, the Devils went 8-7 record. By contrast, they were just 6-11 in games they played with less than two 6-8 or taller players in the starting lineup.
The additional size gives Hurley options that weren’t available last season, and the Sun Devils coach and his staff are toying with the idea of utilizing more lineups featuring two big men.
“We are very versatile and athletic in the front court, which allows us to play with two big men,” Jihad said. “Having two 6-9 plus shot blockers on the floor presents a different look defensively. It adds more protection in the paint, but also can help guard perimeter players when switching. It’s a big advantage being able to guard all positions one through five.”
The roster turnover also means the few returning players are taking on bigger leadership roles. Miller, who joined the Sun Devils after their most recent NCAA tournament appearance back in 2022, has been noticeably more vocal with his new teammates in practices.
“I wanted to fit into the team culture that was established prior to my arrival, instead of being Adam Miller,” Miller said. “The group I joined was fresh off a trip to the (NCAA) Tournament the previous year. I feel like now I can be myself, to help set the tone of what the standard is here.
“We rebranded the culture a little bit, with new members on the coaching staff and new teammates in the locker room. For me personally, it’s important to remember who I am and help lay the foundation for what this team aims to accomplish.”
With all the changes to the core makeup of the team, growing pains are to be expected. However, because of the team’s upside, there is potential that the Sun Devils are set up for a big year.
“We talked about how we’re going to reconstruct the roster and give ourselves the best chance to win at the highest level,” Hurley said. “I see a lot of motivated guys on our team. You look at guys like Alston Mason, Basheer Jihad, and B. J. Freeman, who only have one year in the program, they want to win games and go to the tournament.”
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