Arizona State basketball enters the 2025-26 season with a new look lineup in what could be Bobby Hurley’s final campaign as head coach.
The Sun Devils entered the 2024-25 season with a lot of promise. A mixture of top recruits paired with veteran leaders gave them hope to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons.
That hope was potent at the start, with a 9-2 showing in non-conference play. The Maroon and Gold’s only losses during that stretch were on the road to Gonzaga and the eventual national champion Florida.
But as the calendar turned to 2025, the momentum vanished.
Arizona State basketball only won 20% of its conference games, losing its last 10 matchups at Desert Financial Arena. With injuries piling up, the team never reached its fullest potential, which hurt its morale.
“My players didn’t even want me to talk to them after the game,” Arizona State basketball head coach Bobby Hurley said after the Sun Devil’s loss to TCU on Feb. 15. “You know, what do you want me to say at this point is some of the comments I got from my own players. I think they’re fairly frustrated.”
That frustration played out throughout the season, showcased with the expulsion of guard/forward BJ Freeman before the Maroon and Gold’s Feb. 23 clash against Kansas State for “conduct detrimental to the team” according to Hurley. After losing to the Wildcats in the Big 12 tournament, many of the other stars also left.
While the veterans left for professional opportunities abroad or a chance to extend their collegiate career, freshman phenoms, forward Jayden Quaintance and guard Joson Sanon, chased NCAA tournament stalwarts, let alone title contenders. Quaintance to Kentucky, and Sanon to St. John’s. Overall, only two players from last season remained.
Yet, Hurley is the one rebuilding, as he enters his 11th season in charge. It might also be his last for the Maroon and Gold with his contract ending at the campaign’s conclusion. Furthermore, these coming months will dictate not just Arizona State basketball’s future, but Hurley’s as well.
Head Coach: Bobby Hurley (13th season overall, 11th season at Arizona State)
2024-25 record: 13-20 (4-16 Big 12)
2025 postseason finish: No postseason
Notable departures:
- Alston Mason (13.8 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.5 RPG, 38.7 3P%)
- BJ Freeman (13.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 35.6 3P%)
- Basheer Jihad (12.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.8 APG)
- Joson Sanon (11.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.0 APG)
- Adam Miller (9.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 42.9 3P%)
- Jayden Quaintance (9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 52.5 FG%)
- Amier Ali (5.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.8 APG)
- Shawn Phillips Jr. (5.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 57.3 FG%)
- Austin Nunez (2.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.8 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Gonzaga (Nov. 14)
- vs. Texas (Nov. 24 – Maui Invitational)
- Southwest Maui Invitational (Nov. 25-26)
- vs. Oregon State (Dec. 21)
Projected Rotation:
PG: Maurice Odom (6-1, 160, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.5 APG, 3.2 RPG, 37.9 3P% (Pepperdine)
SG: Adante’ Holiman (6-0, 175, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 16.9 PPG, 2.3 APG, 2.2 RPG, 38.6 3P% (Georgia Southern)
SF: Santiago Trouet (6-10, 218, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.7 APG (San Diego)
PF: Marcus Adams Jr. (6-8, 195, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 16.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.5 APG (Cal State Northridge)
PF: Allen Mukeba (6-6, 247, Gr.)
2024-25 stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.3 APG (Oakland)
6: Bryce Ford (6-3, 190, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 7.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG (Toledo)
7: Trevor Best (6-2, So.)
2024-25 stats: 3.6 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.5 APG
8: Anthony “Pig” Johnson (6-2, 175, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 23.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 48.1 FG% (Cumberlands — NAIA)
9: Vijay Wallace (6-6, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 48.0 FG% (Triton College — NAIA)
10: Jovan Ićitović (6-8, Fr.)
2024-25 stats: 12.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 APG (KK Real Beograd U19– Serbia)
11: Quentin McCoy (6-2, So.)
2024-25 stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG
12: Kash Polk (6-8, 195, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 304 overall ranked recruit.
Arizona State Basketball Team MVP: Maurice Odom
At the heart of a superb Arizona State basketball team is an elite ball handler. Hurley, a point guard himself during his collegiate career, has done the same. Most recently, with transfers, bringing in Frankie Collins before the 2022-23 season, and Alston Mason last year. Both players set the pace of play, orchestrating an offense that seemed discombobulated when absent.
Odom brings those similar qualities to Tempe. In fact, he had the second-highest amount of assists in the WCC last season with 264, only behind current Dallas Maverick Ryan Nembhard. He additionally led the Waves with 43 steals.
With a new cohort, Odom’s skills (and possibly his Mid-Atlantic upbringing) can echo Hurley’s message throughout the group, and becoming a leader for Sun Devil nation to rally around.
Arizona State Basketball make-or-break player: Trevor Best
On paper, Best does not fit the description above. After committing to the Sun Devils on Dec. 30, he started with brief appearances, peaking at three minutes of playing time per game. But as injuries and suspensions accrued, he saw himself as a key contributor, spending at least 13 minutes on the court in each of the last six games.
The Word of God Christian graduate specifically captured the attention of his coach, and Arizona State basketball nation, on Feb. 26 with 18 points, two assists and two steals in a 91-81 loss to BYU. From there, Best became more than the pesky player who would check in and try to steal the ball. He became a tone setter.
But afterwards, Best became targeted by opposing defenses, not hitting double figures for the rest of the season. The lack of production paired well with lethargic play at times from the Maroon and Gold. Therefore, it will be important for Best to show up offensively (mainly off the bench) to provide a spark and depth that his team lacked last season.
Not only does Best bring physicality on both sides of the ball, he is one of Arizona State basketball’s two returners. So, his role in the early weeks of the campaign will be to represent his program’s identity and pass it on to the newcomers.
Key Analytic: Points allowed per game
During Arizona State basketball’s follies late in the season, it would struggle to close out games in the second half. Oftentimes, it was a common and unfixable cause for frustration amongst players and coaches alike.
The Sun Devils allowed 76.8 points per game, which was second-most in the Big 12. Additionally, they conceded over 100 points twice last season for the first time in Hurley’s tenure. Besides those two defeats and a 105-60 loss to then-No. 5 Arizona on Feb. 17, 2024, the last time they conceded 100 points or more was in Jan. 19, 2017 against UCLA.
Granted, some NCAA tournament teams, such as Alabama and Kentucky, also struggled in allowing points. But the Maroon and Gold do not have the offensive capabilities seen in other Power 5 teams, and it will continue to be the case with many potential starters transferring from mid-majors.
So, Arizona State basketball’s defensive improvements fall on Hurley, who leans into a defensive philosophy, going back to his own playing days. Success while protecting the rim and passing lanes might be because of Hurley’s message to his players, and might ultimately decide the team’s record (and postseason opportunities) come March.
Arizona State Basketball 2025-26 Projections
Projected conference finish: 14th in the Big 12
Projected postseason ending: CBC appearance