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ASU Basketball: A Look at Next Season’s Men’s Backcourt

By Sam Ficarro

Feb 26, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Tra Holder (0) makes the game tying free throw against the USC Trojans during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 83-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Tra Holder (0) makes the game tying free throw against the USC Trojans during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 83-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last season ASU basketball was carried by its backcourt with guards Torian Graham, Tra Holder and Shannon Evans but with Graham graduated, who will step up?

ASU basketball’s backcourt was one of the most explosive groups in the Pac-12 with its ability to make 3-pointers and drive inside into the paint.

Guard Torian Graham led the way for the Sun Devils finishing as the Pac-12’s second-leading scorer averaging 18.6 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field.

With Graham’s graduation, a big scoring hole is left open heading into next season as ASU looks for a go-to player.

That player could very well be guard Tra Holder.

Holder finished last season as one of the best point guards in the conference averaging 16.2 PPG (eighth in the Pac-12) on 43 percent shooting and 3.2 assists per game.

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You see what Holder can do as being ASU’s main facilitator and playmaker, but with the infusion of the incoming freshman class and those who didn’t play last season, it could only raise his game to the next level.

Part of Holder’s development was the addition of guard Shannon Evans.

The Buffalo transfer had a strong first season in the desert averaging 15.0 PPG and 4.4 assists per game (fifth in the Pac-12).

The backcourt continuity of Holder and Evans will be extremely beneficial for head coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils as he looks to incorporate new pplayers

in the lineup and rotation.

Guard Kodi Justice had another productive season for Arizona State finishing averaging 9.2 PPG shooting 42 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc.

With all three of those players back for their senior seasons, Hurley will look develop the next group of guards.

Incoming freshman guard Remy Martin is the lone guard coming into the new class and will look to be a productive player off the bench.

Martin, ranked No. 82 in ESPN’s Top 100, is “a talented point guard prospect that can score and facilitate.” and “an explosive point guard prospect that plays with an aggressive edge.”

Sounds like Martin will fit just in with Hurley.

Next: ASU Basketball: A Look at Next Season’s Men’s Frontcourt

With the backcourt, it will be a lot more like last season with Holder and Evans as the primary contributors in the backcourt and they’ll look to further incorporate the new players more next season.

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