ASU transfer Holland Woods decides against redshirting 2020-21 season

If Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley thought he was going to have a tough time divvying up guard minutes this season, a transfer player’s decision Friday will make that part of Hurley’s job a little tougher.

Holland Woods, who transferred to ASU from Portland State this offseason, decided not to redshirt the 2020-21 season, the team announced.

Of course, this “challenge” for Hurley is a positive one.

The report comes on the heels of an NCAA decision to allow Div. I winter sport athletes to receive an additional season of competition. Woods, who played three seasons at PSU, will now get two seasons with the Sun Devils instead of just one plus a potential redshirt year.

That extra year of eligibility made Woods’ decision a lot simpler. He will play behind returning guards Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge and freshman five-star prospect Josh Christopher.

With those three, Woods and sophomore Jaelen House, ASU’s backcourt is extremely deep.

Arizona State will have the deepest perimeter in college basketball next season and it may not be close.

Sun Devils = appointment TV. https://t.co/V1CGlXedRr

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 16, 2020

As a junior last season, Woods averaged 17.7 points, 5.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the 18-14 (12-8 Big Sky) Vikings.

The Sun Devils have high expectations entering the season, with multiple national analysts listing them in the top 15 of preseason rankings.

Woods props up the team as another senior guard that will have the chance to earn a role.

ASU’s season is expected to begin on Nov. 25 in the 2020 Empire Classic, a tournament in which the Sun Devils are expected to replace Michigan. On Oct. 9, Hurley confirmed that the program was reviewing contracts and the team was preparing as if it would play in the tournament.

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