The buzz around five-star prospect Josh Christopher committing to Arizona State basketball is real…even days after the shooting guard became the highest-rated player to select the Sun Devils.
FORKS UP ? @Jaygup23 pic.twitter.com/Kn6PngMp1a
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 14, 2020
So what exactly can Sun Devil Nation expect from one of the most coveted players in the 2020 class?
“First and foremost an outstanding young man who will represent the university well,” Christopher’s head coach at Bellflower Mayfair High School (CA), Tony Davis said to Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat. “On the floor, a very competitive kid who wants to win above all else.”
Davis and Christopher go way back.
He was a volunteer assistant coach when Josh’s oldest brother Patrick, who played his college ball at Cal, was a junior in high school. At the time, Josh was just “two or three years old” Davis recalls.
Josh’s success on the floor fast-tracked early in his prep career. He was named team co-MVP as a freshman.
?????? @Jaygup23 #Schwaaaaag https://t.co/NSHL5fUJtv
— James Harden (@JHarden13) April 15, 2020
What Davis did was push Christopher to become a complete player, specifically on defense.
“Everybody sees the highlight clips of what you can do on the offensive end of the floor and not necessarily understanding the schemes,” he explained. “For him it was more consistent effort, consistent focus on the defensive end. I think as he got older, he got better and a lot more consistent and became one of our defensive leaders this past season.”
Davis applauds Josh for how he’s handled the pressure of being a five-star recruit at Mayfair.
“It was never overwhelming,” he said. “I think the family did a tremendous job of letting the coaches know they were going to do [the recruiting] at their pace and their speed…they were able to control as best as one could.”
So what ultimately sold Christopher on ASU, besides the fact he’s reunited with older brother Caleb – a freshman on Bobby Hurley’s squad last year?
“I think their family atmosphere, I think being close to home,” Davis noted. “They’re a very tight-knit family. I think that played an important role in having his family and friends being able to watch him play. For his game, the fit. Being able to get up and down.”
Plus, Christopher seems to be in-step with Hurley and his coaching style.“I think he doesn’t mind being pushed,” his head coach said. “I think he wants to be as good as he can be…he’s willing to work and dig a little harder.”
Davis said he’s heard Christopher’s skill-set compares to the late Kobe Bryant, Steve Francis and Sun Devil legend James Harden.
Sun Devil fans, buckle your seatbelts.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.