Hurley, ASU receive boost and insurance from transfers at guard

There’s a chance that Arizona State has two of their transfers not even play next season, but head coach Bobby Hurley is excited about how they will play a role regardless.

Junior guard Luther Muhammad and senior guard Holland Woods were both key pickups for Hurley.

Muhammad, coming from Ohio State, will sit out a year while Hurley said the plan with Woods is to try and get him eligible right away.

“Holland and I, we’ve discussed the possibility of pursuing a waiver and I think we will,” Hurley said during a video conference call on Thursday.

Muhammad is someone, though, that Hurley expects to influence their season next year even if he won’t play.

With freshman five-star guard Josh Christopher arriving in Tempe, Hurley can have Muhammad’s experience and defensive pedigree push Christopher in practice.

“We have a plan with him to use this year to get better and to train and to be ready for the following season,” Hurley said of Muhammad. “Especially going against guys like Josh and (freshman) Marcus Bagley and pushing those guys every day.

“Intense, defensive-minded competitor. He’ll have a great impact on their development.”

Both provide Hurley some much-needed insurance as well.

If Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr. return for next season and don’t stay in the NBA Draft, both will graduate next season. There’s also the possibility Christopher and Bagley declare for the draft after one year.

That could leave Hurley very exposed at guard but Muhammad will give Hurley experience beyond sophomore guard Jalen House at that position for the 2021-22 season.

As for Woods, if he gets his waiver, he could be the leader Hurley needs to replace Martin.

“He fits to a T what I look for in a point guard,” Hurley said of Woods.

And if Woods doesn’t get his waiver, Hurley all of a sudden has a very experienced backcourt of Muhammad and Woods.

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