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

Last season the highly-touted ASU basketball freshmen class debuted living up to those high expectations. How much will they grow in year two?

ASU basketball came into last season with a tiny bit of uncertainty and potential as the graduation of a senior-laden backcourt transitioned into a talented, but unproven, freshman class.

Guard Sabrina Haines was the only player to return to the backcourt last season playing in all 33 games and starting in all but one of those games.

Haines averaged 6.9 points per game shooting 36 percent from the field and 2.5 rebounds per game last season.

Known as ASU’s best defending guard, Haines defended the opposition’s best perimeter player and was a very active defender.

Haines has shown she can be great offensive player too last season scoring in double-figures in seven of the last 11 games of the season, including a season-high 17 points at Washington State in February.

If Haines can be more consistent offensively, she could be ASU’s best player heading into next season.

All of the freshman guards made an impact last season, with guard Reili Richardson making the largest impact.

RIchardson became the starting point guard in December after guard Kiara Russell sustained an injury in December.

Richardson played in every game starting 25 games averaging 8.4 PPG and 3.8 assists per game.

Tallying a team-high 126 assists last season, Richardson set a school record for the most assists in a season by a freshman.

What made Richardson effective last season was her ability to drive into the paint, suck defenders in and kick it back out to an open player on the perimeter.

Richardson, as you would expect from a freshman, look fatigued down the stretch but with a year under her belt, the growth should continue.

Russell and Robbi Ryan were two other guards who also provided valuable contributions throughout last season.

After missing the whole month of December with an injury, Russell came back during the second weekend of Pac-12 play to average 4.4 PPG and 1.7 rebounds per game.

Ryan, who started 12 games last season replace the injured Kelsey Moos, averaged 6.5 PPG and 2.9 RPG last season.

While none of the guards put up eye-popping numbers last season, the guards were a large part to ASU’s success last season.

Head coach Charli Turner Thorne is known for rotating players to keep each player fresh, and that was even more important last season because of the team’s youth.

With former Sun Devil and current WNBA guard Briann January joining the ASU coaching staff next season, January will provide incredible guidance for the young backcourt as they look to take the next step in their development.

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

The mantle from the graduated senior class has been passed on to the backcourt and they will look to carry the torch for the next three seasons trying to keep Arizona State as one of the best teams in the country.