Nov. 9, 2011
Sun Devil men's hoops coach Herb Sendek has announced the signing of three local high school players. All three will graduate in the spring of 2012 and are expected to be on campus next summer.
The Sun Devils signed Eric Jacobsen (Hamilton High School in Chandler), Kenny Martin (Glendale Ellis) and Calaen Robinson (Corona del Sol).
"We are really excited about our class of 2012," notes Sendek, who enters his sixth year at Arizona State as ASU opens it season Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Montana State at Wells Fargo Arena. "We think we got three terrific young men and three outstanding, versatile players."
"The coaches in this area do a great job and I'm really excited about Arizona high school basketball. We are really fortunate that we got three quality players from this area. I'm excited as we look over the horizon with the guys we'll have coming back next year coupled with these three guys joining our program. It's exciting for our future. We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves we haven't even played a game this season, but since this (press conference) is about a recruiting class, for sure we're excited about next season as well."
Jacobsen, listed by most sites at 6-10 and 235 pounds, has played varsity at Hamilton since he was a freshman. Last season he averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks per game.
"Eric is about 6-10 and has a great body for a young player," says Coach Sendek, who watched post player Jeff Pendergraph lead the nation in field goal percentage in 2008-09. "He moves exceptionally well both with his running as well as his lateral agility for a young man his size. He has good hands. He can score inside and out and I think he has an edge and toughness about him that will really help our team."
As a junior Martin averaged 14.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg 4.8 bpg for the 22-4 Cougars who were eliminated in the 4A-I semifinals.
"Kenny (Martin) is about 6-9," Coach adds. "His reach is incredible and he has an uncanny ability to change, alter and block shots. Perhaps the thing I love about Kenny the most is he plays with a tremendous motor. He plays hard, he competes, he plays to win and I think he has a tremendous upside. He is indefatigable. I think he is ultimately going to be very versatile for us. The one thing that will be important for him moving forward is to gain strength."
As a junior in 2010-11 and coached by Sam Duane, Robinson averaged 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
"Calaen is a lightning quick athlete. I think he is one of the quickest players I saw all year and he really keeps defenders off balance with his quickness, coupled with a very fast release on his shot. He can definitely shoot the ball with range, so he can really keep defenders off balance with his quick first step and his range shooting. I think [he can play both], he's a guy who scores though. He likes to put the ball in the basket."