Which college did James Harden go to and how did he fare there?
James Harden is one of the most talented players in the NBA. Thanks to his versatile arsenal, the 6-foot-5 combo guard has established himself as a deadly scorer and has won three scoring titles so far in his career.
But long before "The Beard" became a superstar, he was dominating college basketball. Thanks to his impressive performances at this level, Harden was the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
This article will reveal everything you need to know about James Harden's college career. We will take a look at his stats and how far he led his team.
James Harden was a fantastic college player who played for Arizona State
Harden was born and raised in California. This is where he attended high school as well, and where he became a young basketball prospect. Thanks to his performances at Artesia High School, a few colleges pursued Harden.
The talented guard decided to go to Arizona State because of Scott Pera, his high school coach. Harden made a promise to Pera that he would follow him to any college team he signs with, and he ended up fulfilling his promise.
In his freshman year, Harden averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. The Sun Devils finished fifth in the Pac-10 and were selected for the 2008 National Invitation Tournament.
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Harden and his team defeated Alabama State and Southern Illinois in the first two rounds before losing in the quarterfinals to Florida.
James Harden was named first-team All-Pac-10 and conference all-freshman team as a result of his outstanding performances.
In his second season at Arizona State, the combo guard improved his average even more. Harden was named to the 2009 All-Pac 10 Tournament Team after averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. In addition, he was named a consensus All-American.
Arizona State defeated the Temple Owls in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Syracuse in the second round.
Harden's draft profile
Harden was frequently compared to Manu Ginobili before entering the NBA. Scouts praised his offensive arsenal, craftiness, and court vision. Unfortunately, his size and consistency were widely regarded as his greatest flaws.
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Some scouts didn't think that Harden's explosiveness would be good enough in the NBA, which definitely hasn't been the case. However, the combo guard has never been considered a great defender, neither in college nor in the professional league.
Harden was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder where he was named Sixth Man of the Year. However, the Thunder traded him to the Houston Rockets in 2012 and this is where he's established himself as one of the best players in the league.