ASU Basketball: Saluting the Seniors

On Saturday night, Arizona State will salute four seniors who have poured their hearts and souls into the Sun Devil basketball program.

In all likelihood, the Washington game will mark the final time fans catch a glimpse seniors Chris Colvin, Carrick Felix, Joey Hormes and Ruslan Pateev at Wells Fargo Arena.

The senior leaders have given their all to Arizona State, and they have played an integral role in reinvigorating the program this season.

As the Sun Devils march on in their bid for an NCAA tournament berth, we pause and thank four players who have helped make this journey possible.

Chris Colvin: In the 2011-2012 season, Colvin started at the point guard position for the Sun Devils and quickly grasped the concept of playing team basketball. A transfer from Palm Beach Community College, the versatile 6-foot-3 guard came on strong late last year.

After closing the season by scoring 8.7 points and dishing out 5.0 assists per game over his final 15 games, Colvin made an incredible sacrifice for his team.

The Sun Devils decided to make freshman Jahii Carson the face of the program, and the Arizona native started the 2012-2013 season at the point guard position.

Despite being an incumbent in the starting five, Colvin came off the bench for the vast majority of this season. Last week against Colorado, Coach Sendek rewarded the senior by inserting him into the lineup at the two-guard position.

Colvin is averaging just 5.0 points per game, but the energy and toughness he brings to the team from a defensive standpoint is worth noting as well.

Colvin didn't take the traditional route, but the Sun Devils are glad to have him contributing this season.

Carrick Felix: Few college basketball players mean more to a program than Carrick Felix does to Arizona State.

The dynamic wing transferred to Tempe after playing at the University of Southern Idaho, and Sun Devil fans are sure glad he did.

The senior captain has been nothing short of sensational on the court as his 14.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, and 34.8 minutes per game are all near the top of the Pac-12 conference.

Felix has also made an impressive push to be named the Pac-12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year by locking down his opponents' best player all season long.

Perhaps more importantly, Felix provides the motivation for the Sun Devils off the court as a vocal leader and through leading by example. His hard work and dedication are second to none, and his energy and enthusiasm are infectious.

Felix is certainly among the most improved players in the country, and Coach Herb Sendek's face lights up whenever he has the opportunity to talk about the work that the senior put in during the offseason to reach his goals.

Regardless of how the Sun Devils finish the season, Arizona State fans should be proud to call Felix one of their own.

Joey Hormes: Though Hormes has not seen the fruits of his labor pay off on the court, the Phoenix native has played an important role for the Sun Devils throughout the season.

Hormes transferred to Arizona State after a productive career at Glendale Community College, and has given the Sun Devils great effort as a practice player.

The 6-foot guard can be spotted shadowing Jahii Carson, Evan Gordon and Chris Colvin at practice and the defensive intensity he brings to the table has helped his teammates perform at a higher level.

It's never easy for coaches to say goodbye to players like Hormes because it's hard to replace someone who sacrifices for the betterment of the team on a daily basis.

Ruslan Pateev: Of the four seniors, the Moscow, Russia native will be the only Sun Devil to earn four letters in his career in Tempe.

Pateev scored nine points in his first game at Arizona State back in 2009, and has continued to give Coach Herb Sendek quality minutes throughout his career.

In his sophomore season, Pateev started eight games and averaged double digits in minutes played.

Last year, Pateev split time with Jordan Bachynski at the center position and scored 4.6 points per game for Arizona State.

This season, Bachynski has assumed control of the paint, but Pateev has been a valuable resource off the bench.

Currently, Pateev is averaging just 2.7 points per game, but he has played an instrumental role in a number of Sun Devil victories.

The veteran scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a game-changing performance against the Cal Bears on February 7^th in his best outing of the season.

After the game, Coach Sendek praised Pateev for his commitment to the team and called him, "the ultimate team player."

Of all the Sun Devil players, Pateev is one of a handful of fan favorites who has the ability to make fans laugh, cry, and jump up and down after watching him play for just a single possession.

Fans and teammates alike will miss Pateev for his trademark hook shot and defensive hustle, and they can thank him for four years of service to the Sun Devil program.