Former Arizona State guard Eddie House becomes fifth Sun Devil to have jersey honored

Jan 26, 2014, 7:38 AM | Updated: 7:38 am

TEMPE, Ariz. — Before names like James Harden or Jahii Carson were ever uttered along East Veterans Way, it was another electric guard, Eddie House, whom Sun Devils fans packed Wells Fargo Arena to get a glimpse of.

While Arizona State failed to make the NCAA tournament during House’s four years in Tempe — the team combined to go 61-63 under three different coaches (Bill Frieder, Don Newman and Rob Evans) — the former Sun Devil was more than worth the price of admission all by himself.

House, who went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA with nine different teams, left the program as the all-time leader in points (2,044) and steals (258). Not to mention, during his senior year (1999-2000), the native of Union City, Calif. became the first player in program history to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year — an award that was highlighted by his conference-record-tying 61-point effort against California on Jan. 8, 2000.

Yet, outside of a portrait of House adorning the entrance to Section K1, there are very few remnants of the sharpshooter’s accomplished collegiate career around his former stomping grounds.

But that all changed Saturday night, as the two-time All-Pac-10 first teamer had his No. 5 jersey honored at halftime of the Sun Devils’ 72-51 win over the Colorado Buffaloes.

Amid chants of “Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!,” House’s jersey was unfurled up in the rafters alongside those belonging to Byron Scott, Fat Lever, Joe Caldwell and Lionel Hollins.

While House didn’t speak during the brief ceremony, Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek praised the program for honoring the former guard 14 years removed from his illustrious Sun Devil career.

“It was a memorable day honoring Eddie House,” Sendek said. “I think it’s one of the best things we’ve done in recent times.”

ASU also plans to honor center Alton Lister’s No. 53 jersey later this season during a Feb. 8 home game against Oregon.

Colorado's Xavier Johnson (2) gets fouled by Arizona State's Eric Jacobsen, left, as he goes up for a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado's Josh Scott (40) gets fouled by Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski, right, as he goes up for a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado's Jaron Hopkins (23) gets double-teamed by Arizona State's Eric Jacobsen (21) and Jordan Bachynski, left, as he tries to go up for a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski (13) blocks the shot of Colorado's Jaron Hopkins (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado's Xavier Johnson (2) tips the ball away from Arizona State's Jahii Carson, left, as Colorado's Jaron Hopkins (23) watches during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Jahii Carson (1) gets past Colorado's Askia Booker (0) for a score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Jahii Carson (1); Jonathan Gilling (31), of Denmark; and Bo Barnes (4) do some early celebrating as Colorado is forced to call a timeout during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling (31) tries to get off a shot as Colorado's Xavier Talton (3) defends while Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski (13) and Colorado's Jaron Hopkins (23), Josh Scott, third from right, Eli Stalzer, second from left, and Xavier Johnson, left, watch during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State coach Herb Sendek, left, shakes hands with Bo Barnes late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado's Askia Booker shouts after committing a turnover during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Eric Jacobsen, right, turns the ball over to Colorado's Josh Scott, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Eric Jacobsen (21) gets the ball tipped away by Colorado's Xavier Johnson (2) as Arizona State's Jermaine Marshall watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado coach Tad Boyle shouts instructions to his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Colorado's Josh Scott (40) pulls down an offensive rebound in front of Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Colorado 72-51. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The No. 5 jersey of former Arizona State standout Eddie House takes its place in the rafters among four other honorees at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Twitter photo/@TylerBoyle44) Former Arizona State player Eddie House has his No. 5 jersey raised to the rafters of Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Twitter photo/@Josh_Nacion) Former Arizona State basketball star Eddie House walks to midcourt during halftime of Saturday's Sun Devils-Colorado Buffaloes game at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz. (Twitter photo/@TheSunDevils) Several ex-Arizona State basketball players take the court during halftime of a Sun Devils-Colorado Buffaloes game to honor former standout Eddie House on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Twitter photo/@HouseofSparky) Former Arizona State star Eddie House (center, in suit) rings the victory bell with current Sun Devils players after Saturday's 72-51 defeat of Colorado at Wells Fargo Arena. (Twitter photo/@TheSunDevils)

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