James Harden (basketball)

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Please improve this article if you can. (March 2008)

James Harden (born August 26, 1989) is a 6'4", 218 lbs guard from Los Angeles, CA. He currently plays form the Arizona State Sun Devils.[1] He is expected to stay in college and projected to be a lottery pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.[2]

[edit] High School

Harden attended Artesia High School in Lakewood, CA. In his sophomore year, he averaged 13.2 points as Artesia went 28-5. He improved his stats to 18.8 points, 7.7 boards and 3.5 assists in his junior season and led Artesia to the California state title and a 33-1 record. Artesia won the state title in Harden's final year too by going 33-2. Harden had similar stats as during the previous season, 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 asissts.

He also helped his AAU team, Pump-N-Run Elite, to the 2006 Las Vegas adidas Super 64 championship.[3] Harden has 34 points in the victory over a DC Assault team consisting of Michael Beasley, Nolan Smith and Austin Freeman. In the game against Houston Hoops, played on the same day, Harden had 33. In the final Pump-N-Run Elite beat Kevin Love's Southern California All-Stars.

[edit] College Career

Arizona State was picked to finish 9th in the Pac-10 Conference.[4] Thanks to Harden's 18.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists, the Sun Devils are 18-11 (8-9) and 5th in the Pac-10 (as of March 7, 2008). They were considered a bubble team for the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Left out of the NCAA tournament, they were selected to the NIT tournament as a number 1 seed and out classed 8th seeded Alabama State 64-53 in the first round game which Arizona State hosted. Harden compiled a double-double with 25 pts and 13 rebs in the first round matchup.