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Maroon Madness: No. 1 James Harden vs. No. 8 Jim Jeffcoat

Guard vs. Defensive End...(Basketball vs. Football though silly.)

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports/Getty Images

The Matchup: A couple of superstars that not only Arizona sports fans will recognize, but also fans of Texas sports are familiar with. Both James Harden and Jim Jeffcoat have had portions of their professional careers in The Lone Star State. Both of these Sun Devils have had lasting careers in their professional careers after college.

No. 1 James Harden

Basic info: Born: August 26, 1989 in Los Angeles, California. High School: Artesia (Lakewood, California.) Height/Weight: 6-foot-5-inches, 220 pounds. ASU Career: 2007-2009. NBA Career: 2009-2012 (Thunder), 2012-Present (Rockets).

Notables: A consensus First-Team All-American in 2009, Harden was also named Pac-10 Player of the Year during that same season. He was named a Wooden Award Finalist in 2009 as well. While at Arizona State, he started 68 games over two years, collected 1309 points, a .755 free-throw percentage, and sinked 102 3-pointers. His number 13 is retired and can be seen swaying in the rafters at ASU’s Wells Fargo Arena.

What you don’t know: Harden averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during the 2008-09 season at ASU, and was taken third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James Harden’s Resume

ASU Career
ASU Career
2008-09 Consensus All-American
2008-09 Pac-10 Conferenece Player of the Year
Wooden Award Finalist (2008-09)
Scored 704 points in 2008-09 (1st in Pac-10 Conference)
#13 Jersey Retired
Drafted 3rd Overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Pro Career
Six-time NBA All-Star
2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year
2017-18 NBA Scoring Champion
4-time All NBA (3rd-Team 2012-13, 1st-team 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17)
2016-17 NBA Assists Champion
Most recently, made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2018

No. 8 Jim Jeffcoat

Basic Info: Born: April 1, 1961 in Long Branch, New Jersey. High School: Matawan (NJ) Regional. Height/Weight: 6-foot-5-inches, 280 pounds. ASU Career: 1980-1982. NFL Career: 1983-1994 (Cowboys), 1995-1997 (Bills). DL Coaching Career: 1998-2004 (Dallas Cowboys) 2008-2010 (University of Houston) 2011-2012 (San Jose State) 2013-Present (Colorado).

Notables: He finished his ASU career with 20 career sacks and was part of the No. 1 ranked Arizona State defense in 1982. Jeffcoat collected 95 tackles, four sacks, four pass deflections, and forced two fumbles in his senior season. He was inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame, the ASU Football Ring of Honor and the Fiesta Bowl Hall of Fame.

What you don’t know: Jeffcoat was part of a Dallas Cowboys team that defeated his future team of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

Jim Jeffcoat’s Resume

ASU Career
ASU Career
95 Tackles, 4 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles in senior season
All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention
Inducted into Arizona State Football Ring of Honor
Inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame in 1994
23rd Overall Draft Pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1983 NFL Draft
Pro Career
Two-Time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys (1992, 1993)
102.5 Career Sacks
2 Career Interceptions
2 Career Touchdowns