Arizona State lands commitment from talented junior college scorer
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley has the task of rebuilding his guard rotation this offseason. Thursday evening’s news is big in that regard.
The Sun Devils need to replace leading scorer Desmond Cambridge Jr., who has exhausted his eligibility. Guards DJ Horne, Austin Nunez, and Jamiya Neal have all entered the transfer portal as well. There is no shortage of minutes to be won in the ASU backcourt next season.
Which leads to Malachi Davis.
The 6-foot-4 point guard from Tallahassee Community College announced his commitment to ASU on social media. Davis spent his sophomore season in Florida and attended Lake Land College in Illinois as a freshman.
The story continues… 🏜️🏁 @SunDevilHoops #Committed #JUCOPRODUCT #ForkEm 🔱 pic.twitter.com/7ByQH1cRRC
— Malachi Davis (@_malachidavis) March 30, 2023
Davis is a walking bucket.
After averaging a team-best 16.5 points a game for Lake Land during the 2021-22 season, Davis made his way to Tallahassee and put up 17.1 points a game in only 20.1 minutes a night. He shot 35% on his 3s and 51% from the field overall.
Arguably the top junior college player on the market, Davis went absolutely nuclear last week at the NJCAA Tournament. In leading the Eagles to the Final Four, Davis scored 31 points, then 48, 33, and 31 again. He had tremendous success attacking the basket, seeking out contact, and finishing through it.
6’4 PG Malachi Davis is the BEST scorer in JUCO!
Long, explosive, and athletic with terrific body control, ambidextrous finishing at the rim, & NBA range from deep.
48 PTS vs Salt Lake yesterday to will his team to the Elite Eight of the JUCO National Championships. pic.twitter.com/kOHrcZo8fX
— Yusuf Ali (@yu5ali) March 23, 2023
He scored 20 or more in a game 15 times this past season (37 appearances). That included seven games with at least 30 points, and five straight with at least 30 to close out the year.
Davis also topped 20 points nine times as a freshman.