ASU Basketball Backcourt Preview: Moving on from Jahii Carson

The Jahii Carson era is over for Arizona State basketball. The 5-foot-10, high flying point guard has moved on from the Sun Devil program and onto the professional basketball scene in Australia. Carson is not the only departure for Arizona State, as the Sun Devils lost five backcourt players, including three transfers.

Find out what it all means in our 2014-2015 Arizona State backcourt preview.

Departures

Jahii Carson: The Mesa, Ariz. product led the Sun Devils in scoring the past two seasons. Carson was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in both his years at Arizona State and was the Pac-12 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2013. Carson averaged 18.6 points per game, shooting 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

Jermaine Marshall: The Penn State transfer averaged 15.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his only season in Tempe. Marshall was the best perimeter shooter on the team last season and was leaned on during late-game scenarios.

Egor Koulechov: The sophomore transferred to Rice in the offseason, where he reunites with Scott Pera, the former Arizona State assistant coach who brought Koulechov to Tempe. He only averaged 3.7 points per game lasts season, but brought great energy off the bench.

Calean Robinson: The Tempe, Ariz. native averaged just 6.2 minutes a game last season. Robinson redshirted in 2012-2013 because of an off the court issue, last season he played in 20 games, averaging just 1.6 points per contest. Robinson transferred to Portland State.

Brandon Kearney: Sun Devil fans did not get to see much of Kearney. After sitting out the first six weeks of the season, the Michigan State transfer played in just 19 games in his short time in Tempe. Kearney left Arizona State for Detroit University.

Returners

Chance Murray: The sophomore averaged 7.9 minutes per game and appeared in 22 contests during his freshman season. Murray is a combo guard that can play off the ball or at the point. He shot just 36 percent from the field last season, averaging just 2.4 points per game.

Murray will have to improve his shot if he hopes to see an increase to his playing time in 2014-2015, however his versatility in the backcourt may lead to an increased role.

Bo Barnes: Even though he saw his role increase as the season wore on, Barnes almost didn't return to the program. After a scholarship opened up for him, Barnes took advantage and now returns as the largest contributor in the backcourt from 2014-2015.

Barnes started the year as a 3-point specialist, however as the season went on he showed a knack for attacking the basket and played with great energy off the bench.

Newcomers

Tra Holder: The true freshman from Los Angeles, Calif., will draw plenty of comparisons to Carson both because of his size and his quickness. Holder his listed at 6-foot-1 and Sendek calls him the team's only true point guard. Holder has the speed and quickness to run the point in Sendek's up-tempo attack.

Holder averaged 22.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a senior in high school and was rated as the No. 132 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com

Kodi Justice: One of two valley products to high with Arizona State, Justice starred for Dobson high school in Mesa, Ariz. As a senior, he averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Justice projects as a shooting guard in college and already has great size (6-foot-5) for the position. Justice has a smooth shooting stroke and a polished offensive game for a freshman.

Gerry Blakes: The California Junior College Co-Player of the Year averaged 23.7 points per game at San Bernardino State as a sophomore. Like Murray, Blakes can play the point guard position or the shooting guard position. He is a very good defender and has a good chance to play right away.

Analysis

Sendek has told reporters multiple times this fall that he is not sure what this year's rotation will look like. However, most in the media believe Holder and Blakes will be the mainstays at the point guard position. Holder may not be as polished offensively as Blakes, but his ability to lead an offense and run Sendek's system may lead to him being named the starter at point guard.

The shooting guard position is harder to figure out. There is a chance Blakes spends the majority of the season there if Holder plays well. Roosevelt Scott has a chance to start the season as in the starting lineup and Justice and Murray should see time early in the season at the shooting guard position.

Unlike last season, Sendek has the ability to mix and match with his lineups. With the exception of Holder, each guard can play off the ball and there is a chance Shaquille McKissic can play in the backcourt if the situation calls for it.