something to prove.
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) July 18, 2020
#11 is coming back. pic.twitter.com/mjPqoL84xA
No one in college basketball was more productive in his role than Alonzo Verge Jr. last year.
?? SUN DEVILS WIN ?? pic.twitter.com/kknArcE3ct
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 26, 2020
That role will change and increase in 2020-21, but the production, numbers and results are expected to be the same. The Chicago native and bucket-getter will return for his senior season after entertaining thoughts of turning professional.
16.8 ppg to lead the country in scoring off the bench...
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 10, 2020
Zo is an absolute BUCKET and no one can say otherwise. ???? pic.twitter.com/gh9TU4ijyU
When ASU was great --- its first Pac-12 seven game win streak since 1980-81 -- Verge was fantastic. In the seven-game win streak he averaged 20.6 ppg., was 53-of-100 (.530) from the field, 7-of-18 (.389) from three and 31-of-43 (.721) from the free throw line.
"We are thrilled with Alonzo's decision," says Sun Devil sixth-year head coach Bobby Hurley, who has led the Sun Devils to three straight 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1960s. "He is committed to winning and competing for championships. Zo is well positioned to have an outstanding senior season which will strengthen his future professional opportunities."
Verge earned Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year as he averaged 16.8 points per game off the bench (19 games) which led the nation.
Zo's junior year…
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 26, 2020
?? Pac-12 6th Man of the Year
?? NCAA leader in scoring off the bench
Nothing discreet about it. pic.twitter.com/Sipr8NYwjY
But it wasn't all easy. After averaging 6.2 points, going 1-of-9 from the three-point stripe and shooting 11-of-45 (.244) from the field in his first five Pac-12 games, Verge after that five-game span averaged 17.3 points, was 87-of-176 (.494) from the field and 37-of-52 (.712) from the foul line in the final 13 games. He put in the work and didn't pout or complain. He just shot and shot and shot.
MOST POINTS IN SUN DEVIL HISTORY
61-Eddie House at California (2 OT), Jan. 8, 2000
46-Eddie House vs. San Diego State, Dec. 18, 1999
45-Paul Williams at USC, Mar. 10, 1983
43-Alonzo Verge Jr. vs. Saint Mary's, Dec. 18, 2019
42-Eddie House vs. Penn State, Dec. 29, 1999
40-Tra Holder vs. #15 Xavier, Nov. 24, 2017
40-Jahii Carson at UNLV, Nov. 19, 2013
40-James Harden vs. UTEP, Nov. 30, 2008
40-Eddie House vs. UCLA, Feb. 17, 2000
The Pac-12 Lou Will.
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 9, 2020
Congratulations to Alonzo Verge on being named Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year. ??6?? pic.twitter.com/IGSB0sZoeJ
ALONZO VERGE TOP SCORING GAMES (12-2 WHEN HE SCORES 15/6-1 WHEN SCORES 20)
43 vs. St. Mary's (12/18/19)
26 vs. #14 Oregon (2/20/20)
26 vs. UCLA (2/6/20)
23 vs. Texas Southern (12/28/19)
22 at California (2/16/20)
20 vs. Washington State (3/7/20)
20 vs. Prairie View A&M (12/11/19)
19 vs. Washington (3/5/20)
19 at Stanford (2/13/20)
19 vs. Creighton (12/21/19)
18 at Washington (2/1/20)
17 vs. Oregon State (2/22/20)
16 vs. USC (2/8/20)
15 vs. Georgia (12/14/19)
ALONZO VERGE JR. FEATURESTHAT'S WHAT WE LIKE ZO. ????@Zo_Verge4 applying the pressure » Sun Devils +9?? pic.twitter.com/MKaEzuVLPK
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 8, 2020
-- Alonzo Verge's move to the bench helped spark ASU's Pac-12 run (by Logan Newman, ArizonaSports.com/March 10, 2020)
-- Comfortable being alone: How college matured Alonzo Verge Jr. (by Jordan Kaye, ASUDevils.com/March 10, 2020)
-- Meet Alonzo Verge Jr., ASU's super sixth man (by Connor Van Ligten, ASU State Press/Feb. 11, 2020)
--'It's going to come': Verge patient amid offensive slump (by Trevor Booth, SunDevilSource/Dec. 11, 2019)
-- Getting to Know Zo (by C.J. Holmes, The Athletic/March 17, 2019)
-- Verge revered being one of the greatest players in Greyhound history (by Chuck Embree, Moberley Monitor-Index//April 11, 2019)
Iso Zo was in his bag vs. UCLA
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 7, 2020
?? 26 points
?? 10/16 from the field
?? 100% from three pic.twitter.com/04P8QPY9AC