Did Herb Sendek just Sign the Next Lebron James?
Arizona State men’s basketball coach Herb Sendek has finally put the finishing touches on his recruiting Class of 2009. Is the final piece to the puzzle the next Lebron James? Well, at least one publication thought he was.
Don’t fret over the end of the James Harden era. The next Lebron James will be ready to fill his shoes next fall.
The Arizona State men’s basketball team has signed Demetrius Walker, about whom a Sports Illustrated reporter gushed “This kid is 14 going on Lebron” way back in January 2005.
It appeared that Herb Sendek had tied a bow on the Class of 2009 when Minneapolis shooting guard Trent Lockett and Russian big man Ruslan Pateev agreed to play for the Sun Devils late last week.
Then Walker fell into ASU’s lap.
Walker moved to the Valley from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., over the summer and at the behest of his mother reconsidered his commitment to USC. He waffled at the 11th hour, visited ASU for the season-opening win over Mississippi Valley State and signed the paperwork yesterday.
Unfortunately, Omar Bolden didn’t give him pointers on pulling the old switcheroo on the Trojans.
Walker was 6 feet 3 and 175 pounds when Sports Illustrated tabbed him as the next big thing as a 14-year-old. He’s now a 6-foot-4, 200-pound combo guard known for muscling his way to the rim. (Sound familiar?)
He’s enrolled at Phoenix St. Mary’s but he won’t suit up until December 19 due to an administrative snafu. St. Mary’s, of course, has produced a number of big time prospects including Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless.
Though he didn’t emerge as the next Lebron James, he is considered a top 125 prospect. Hey, it’s not easy to tell who’s going to make it at the tender age of 14—unless you’ve got a killer highlight reel like Mr. Davonte Neal.
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I want a jersey that says “Phenom.” Seriously, how cool is that. It’s as if Ron Burgandy made a clothing line that included athletic wear. I guess this kid is “kind of a big deal.”
Tempe – where the beer flows like wine, and Herb’s recruits flow like the salmon of San Juan Capistrano.
I’ve got the cover of that Sports Illustrated framed in my office, actually. It’s not because I’ve been a big Demetrius Walker fan for years, but because it’s one of many Patriots covers framed (a snow-covered, mean-lookin’ Ted Bruschi….)
Anyway, it is going to be even cooler in a few years after Walker is gone from ASU, to have that issue framed just by happenstance.
Tread lightly, Mr. Funke. Before Bruschi was a Patriot he was a low down dirty Rat! >:-)
this is great news! I don’t think the kid will be as good as harden or lebron, but is another solid player that has the potential to be great. Hes still young and some more work on his game, he can become a force for the devils. I was hoping ol Sendeck could make a huge splash with a top 20 prospect. Hopefully a PF.
I know there are three big men out there that have not sign a LOI.
Derrick Favors, a 6-9 220 lb athletic freak. He is the top big man in the 09 class, #4 overall rank. 5 star
Renardo Sidney 6-10 250. 4 star
Sidney is looking out west while Favors is looking east. Neither are looking at ASU as of now.
Then a kid that is on ASU’s list is Kyryl Natjazhko 6-10 250 who has not signed a LOI yet. Could be and even better recruiting class if he could land one of these big men to solidify our team next year. (4 star)
Herb is going to lead ASU as a consistent top pac team. Keep up the good work Herb.
I wouldn’t count us out on Sidney. He went to to Artesia High School with James Harden (in addition to two other high schools). If Harden sticks around another year, maybe Sidney will come aboard.
Then again, I’m not sure that ASU wants him? The LA Times reported USC has cooled on him and he’s apparently considering playing in pro ball in Europe a la Brian Jennings.
“Sidney Sr. said the leading pursuers of his son are St. Louis, Kansas State, Kansas, Oregon State, Mississippi State, Washington and Connecticut.” — LA Times
Either way, I love the direction of the program. Keep at it, Herb!
[...] our friends at The Greg and Mark Show to do a scouting report on future Sun Devil Demetrius Walker. Is Demetrius Walker the next Lebron James? Find out by listening [...]
[...] who was compared to Lebron James by Sports Illustrated when he was just 14, had a phenomenal Final Four weekend to lead Phoenix St. Mary’s to a state title—something [...]