arizona state signings

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Around The Pac-10: ASU Sun Devils Sign
Tron Smith, Three Others--(Nov. 14, 2002)

Arizona State has picked up some very good signees this year, including Tron Smith (6'-1" Sr. SG) from Canyon Springs HS in Moreno Valley. Tron attended ABCD this summer and has played for the past few years for Elvert "Kool Aid" Perry's Inland team and was one of the standout players this past spring at the Rockfish Spring League. In addition to Tron, who reportedly has yet to achieve a qualifying SAT score (albeit under the old standard of 820), the Sun Devils also received signed letters of intent from Wilfried Fameni from Virgina, Chris Low from Texas, and Keith Wooden from Kansas.

Here's the official press release announcing the signing of the four players by Arizona State yesterday:

Men's Hoops Signs Four Student-Athletes

Four freshmen to join roster next fall.

Nov. 13, 2002

The Arizona State men's basketball program has signed four high school seniors in the early signing period, head coach Rob Evans announced today. The quartet includes Wilfried Fameni (Amelia Academy/Amelia, Va.), Chris Low (Gorman High School/Tyler, Texas), Tron Smith (Canyon Springs High School/Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Keith Wooden (Lawrence Free State High School/Lawrence, Kan.). All four are expected to join the Sun Devil program in the fall of 2003.

"We are excited that we could sign these four student-athletes to commit to ASU, as they are the top four players we targeted at the beginning of the recruiting period. We love their versatility and their character," says Evans. "All of them had tremendous visits with our current players and our players gave us feedback. We leaned on them for an evaluation of what kind of people they are. Our current senior class set the stage four years ago when we arrived at ASU, and these kids on their recruiting visits felt the atmosphere in our program was the best one for them. We are recruiting student-athletes who can make an immediate impact.

"Recruiting has been a great experience with our current team. They understand and believe in our program and because of that the student-athletes that visit our campus come away impressed."

ASU's signings have already been ranked as No. 22 in the nation and third in the Pac-10 by Bob Gibbons All-Star Sports Report. The recruitment of Tron Smith marks the third straight fall in which ASU has signed a top-50 player. Current sophomore Jason Braxton was ranked 47th by Clark Francis of the HoopScoop two years ago, and current freshman Ike Diogu checked in at No. 21 on ESPN.com last year. Smith is currently ranked No. 26 by ESPN.com.

Smith averaged 16.3 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game in 26 contests last year for Canyon Springs, which is the same high school as current Sun Devil sophomore point guard Jason Braxton. He made 35 three-point field goals in his junior year. He played in the adidas ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J. over the summer and also averaged more than 20 points for Inland, an Amateur Athletic Union team based in Rialto, Calif. He is ranked No. 74 by Bob Gibbons.

"Tron's signing is big for us because he will team with Jason Braxton next year and give us one of the quickest backcourts in the nation. He is as good as any player I have recruited and can compete with anyone. He can score and can shoot and is a great combination guard."

Wooden averaged 18 points, 10 boards and three blocks per game in his junior season at Free State High School. He was ranked No. 50 by HoopScoop, No. 55 by PrepStar and No. 70 by Bob Gibbons All-Star Sports Report. He played in the ABCD/Nike camp this summer and is already a two-year starter.

"Keith is a very versatile athlete who can play both the high and low post and is very strong. He is a lot like the freshman we recruited last year, as he is already strong enough to compete at this level. Once he gets in our weight room, it will be fun to watch him develop."

Low averaged 24.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and six blocks per game in his junior year at Gorman and will join Texans Allen Morill and Ike Diogu on the ASU roster next year. His team advanced to the state semifinals last year and he was ranked among the top 50 prospects at the Nike/ABCD Camp.

"Chris was recruited by some very good schools and can help us immediately in the low post. He has good skills and having another Texas student-athlete on the roster is a sign that we are serious about recruiting in a state that our staff is very familiar with."

Fameni is a 6-8, 225-pound forward from Amelia Academy in Virginia who is ranked No. 114 by PrepStars.com. He is originally from Cameroon, the same nation as current freshman Serge Angounou. He averaged 20 points and 12 boards per game in his junior season and earned first-team Division III state independent school selection.

"Wilfried is a great athlete and rebounder and knows what our program is all about just from talking with Serge. Athletically, he is ready to make an impact in this league. He will fit in well with our backcourt as he can run the floor very well."

ASU opens its season Friday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Arena against Morehead State.