While the ASU men's basketball team struggled to a seventh place finish last season in the highly competitive Pac-10, sophomore point guard Jason Braxton emerged along the way as one of the top newcomers to the conference.
Braxton came to ASU last year as one of the premier recruits in the country from Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif., where he averaged 20 points and almost 10 assists his senior season.
Although he was only a freshman, Braxton saw immediate action in coach Rob Evans's game plan and finished the season averaging 23 minutes of playing time per game.
"He was a freshman last year and it was different for him," Evans said. "I think you will see a lot if improvement in Jason Braxton. He is doing a better job of running the basketball team."
Braxton had a knack for wowing crowds last year with his ball handling and quickness, as well as producing a number of powerful slam dunks from his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame.
Despite his flashy play, Braxton began to show weaknesses in parts of his game, particularly with his shooting.
Braxton ended the season shooting under 40 percent from the field and an abysmal 17 percent from three-point range. But worst of all may have been Braxton's free-throw percentage, which stood at 43 percent by the end of the season.
"A lot of times we played four-on-five last year offensively," Braxton said. "Once I passed the ball, I was nothing. They [the opponents] just laid off me."
During the off-season, Braxton followed a strict practice regimen intended to improve both his shooting and free throws.
Braxton said he considers himself more of a threat to shoot the ball now than he did last year, something that should prove to benefit the entire offense.
"Now I feel they [the opponents] will actually play me," Braxton said. "Then I can get other guys more shots. I don't feel like I'll score more, but I feel I can get more assists because I will be more of a threat to score."
Evans agreed that Braxton's off-season work has given the point guard more poise to take the open shot.
"No longer can you leave him open," Evans said. "If you leave him open, I think he's got enough confidence to knock down shots."
Braxton and the rest of the Sun Devils have just one practice left until the first exhibition game on Wednesday against the EA Sports All-Stars.
"Everyday, we come out here and want to practice," Braxton said. "It's really competitive. There is only 40 minutes in a game and everyone wants to play."
Last year, Braxton split his time at the point guard position with senior Kyle Dodd, who averaged about 18 minutes.
Braxton said he would like as much playing time as possible, but also said that he doesn't mind time on the bench if Dodd can help the team.
"I want to play the whole game, but I know Kyle is playing really well and I think he should play also," Braxton said. "I'm all about winning."
Braxton is expected to start, but Evans said he is still not sure as to how he will divide up the minutes between the two point guards.
"Both of those guys I am really fond of," Evans said. "It just depends on how they play and what we are looking for. But I think both those guys will play a lot of minutes."
Reach the reporter at andrew.bernick@asu.edu.
