ASU Basketball: Should Luguentz Dort return for a second season?

Freshman guard Luguentz Dort was undecided about his future with ASU basketball after the team’s loss to Buffalo in the NCAA Tournament.

The rafters inside Wells Fargo Arena aren’t the most decorated. Only seven jerseys hover in retirement, a modest total compared to programs like Kansas (30), whom Arizona State twice upended in the last two seasons.

Still, the names are supplemented by hefty accomplishments. An NBA MVP (James Harden). A three-time champion (Byron Scott). And three players (Scott, Fat Lever, Alton Lister) that built one of ASU’s greatest teams in 1980-81.

Yet, for all that each achieved, none selected an impending choice for freshman Luguentz Dort. If he declared for June’s NBA Draft, Dort would become the first ‘one-and-done’ player in Sun Devil history.

After Friday’s loss to Buffalo in the NCAA Tournament, the 6-foot-4 guard mentioned that all options are currently on the table.

“There’s a big decision that’s going to come up,” Dort said. “I still don’t know yet. There’s still some stuff that I have to talk to my family and my people (about).”

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While Dort wouldn’t share a concrete decision, he did say he was nearing a personal conclusion.

“It’s going to come soon,” he said. “I have something in my mind; I just want to keep it to myself right now. But there’s some good news coming up.”

For ASU fans, good news would be a second collegiate season. If Dort stays, the Sun Devils would return four starters and six rotation players on next year’s roster, a helpful boost to combat a much-improved Pac-12 conference.

Or, the news could benefit Dort and his family. Because of his physical traits, Dort could be a first-round pick — from the late lottery to the end of the round — a chance that he may not want to pass up.

Regardless of what is currently in his head, the next few weeks will be pivotal for Dort’s career. Not only will he have to make a decision, he must make the right one, as well.

In one college season, Dort proved himself as a next-level talent. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 34 games, receiving selections to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team and as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Offensively, his proficiencies were getting to the rim and utilizing his athleticism, evident in a 33-point, seven-rebound outing against Utah State. He also improved his 3-point shot, shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc in seven games from Feb. 13 to March 9.

On the opposing end, Dort was a gifted defender. Often pressuring the full length of the floor, he held the league’s Player of the Year — Jaylen Nowell — to 5-of-13 shooting in a Feb. 9 meeting and contributed 1.5 steals per game.

As the season progressed, however, Dort’s youth showed. He struggled with decision making, often forcing shots and dribble drives that led to errant possessions. In Pac-12 play, he averaged 17.8 giveaways per 100 plays.

At times, Dort’s tunnel vision was costly in key moments. He missed a putback layup that would have salvaged a loss to Princeton on Dec. 29, and his forced 3-pointer in overtime of the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals against Oregon could have used an extra rotation.

These mistakes are ones that hold him back in scouting reports like Basketball Society Online:

"As mentioned above Dort has an excellent basketball IQ, however, it still needs some development because he turns the ball over frequently. He is a great passer and has an excellent motor but at times he plays a little bit out of control.He needs to harness his energy and focus more on making better decisions with the ball in his hands. His aggressive play can also lead to foul trouble at times which is something that has hurt Arizona State and times and will definitely hurt his future success in the NBA. He needs to learn to be more under control."

Already, Dort possesses the versatility required of a professional player. So, why not take another year to work out the kinks?

If he returned, Dort would be a frontrunner for Pac-12 Player of the Year and a darkhorse for national recognition. Playing alongside familiar teammates — and 7-foot-1 Uros Plavsic — would allow him to play in a diversity of ways.

If he went to the NBA, his margin for error would be thinner. Granted, he is young, but immediate impacts like Luka Doncic and Trae Young are now expected. As seen from Markelle Fultz, it doesn’t take long to get the ‘bust’ label.

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No matter what decision Dort makes, it will be the one he deems best for his career. But there is a lot to gain from a second year in college.

If Dort masters the mental game, there won’t be much to hold him back as a top 2020 prospect.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.

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