James Harden (basketball)

James Harden (born August 26, 1989) is a 6'4", 218 lbs guard from Los Angeles, CA. He currently plays for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

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. [http://hsoregon.scout.com/a.z?s=201&p=2&c=550188] 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.

College career

Arizona State was picked to finish 9th in the Pac-10 Conference. [http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110107aad.html] 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.

References

* [1] http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/asu-m-baskbl-mtt.html
* [2] http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2009
* [3] http://hsoregon.scout.com/a.z?s=201&p=2&c=550188