ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL
3 ASU commits land in ESPN’s top 100 transfer rankings
Toledo guard Marreon Jackson (3) looks to pass the ball as Richmond guard Jacob Gilyard (0) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the NIT, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Denton, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
While the Arizona State Sun Devils have lost plenty of players to the transfer portal — six for those keeping track — head coach Bobby Hurley has been quick to add new talent to the mix.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello ranked the top 100 players who entered the transfer portal, three of whom are recent ASU commits: Marreon Jackson, Jay Heath and A.J. Bramah.
The highest-ranked incoming Sun Devil is Jackson, the former Toledo Rockets guard who was ranked the 10th best player in the transfer portal. Jackson had offers from schools including Miami, UConn, Minnesota and UNLV, but ultimately decided to come to ASU.
Jackson earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Year honors after establishing himself as one of the best mid-major guards in the country. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists for Toledo.
Jackson shot 40.3% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc in 30 games last season for the Rockets.
Heath, a former Boston College shooting guard, is the second ASU commit ranked in Borzello’s top 100, landing in the 62nd spot. Heath committed to ASU on March 27 after two seasons with the Eagles.
Heath played 33.8 minutes per game during his time with Boston College and was the 12th leading scorer in the ACC last season.
Heath has been a consistent scorer for two seasons with the Eagles, averaging 14.5 points and shooting 35.0% from 3-point range. He’s capable of big games, as evidenced by his five games of 20-plus points — including 28 in a March loss to Florida State.
The rising junior has three years of eligibility remaining and chose ASU over the likes of Florida, LSU and Clemson, amongst others.
The third and final Sun Devil on Borzello’s list of the best transfers, Bramah ranked five spots below Heath.
Bramah was one of the most productive players in the country before leaving Robert Morris in mid-February, averaging 21.0 points and 10.3 rebounds — second in the Horizon in both categories.
ASU beat out Western Kentucky, Nevada and St. Bonaventure for Bramah.
The senior forward averaged 34.3 minutes per game and shot 51.1% from the field in 12 games last season.
