Brad Cesmat
For 25 years I’ve heard the complaint from Arizona State boosters and supporters “why can’t Arizona State do a better job of recruiting Arizona kids.” It’s time to revisit the subject now that it’s pretty clear that the 2019 Sun Devil recruiting class won’t have most of the top in-state talent. Chandler Tight end Brayden Liebrock committed to University of Texas over this past weekend. He was atop the Sun Devils board at the TE position. He might’ve been the next Todd Heap or Zach Miller if you believe the college coaches. Arizona State did nothing wrong in their recruitment of Liebrock. 
He is excited to major in business at UT. Texas head coach Mark Herman wants to use his tight ends. Seems like a natural fit. It’s still a blow to ASU to see a super talented kid like Liebrock go out the door. The Sun Devils never had a chance at Pinnacle QB Spencer Rattler, who’s heading to Oklahoma. Jake Smith at Notre Dame Prep told Jordan Hamm it’s down to USC and Texas. Chandler quarterback Jacob Conover has a BYU offer, which sounds like alot for the Sun Devils to overcome. Casteel QB Gunner Cruz isn’t considering Arizona State. Start going down the list and there’s not one top 10 player in Arizona right now from the 2019 class that’s going to give Herm Edwards a “yes”. Having homegrown players like N’keal Harry and Chase Lucas from Chandler on the Sun Devil current roster, should give recruiting coordinator Donnie Yantis ammunition to get the attention of the local talent. From talking with high school coaches, Yantis and Herm have a done a much better job of being out and visible(no Boom Copters necessary). If this staff were in place a year ago, QB’s Tyler Shough and Brock Purdy would’ve both at least been offered scholarships. Instead both went to Power 5 programs without being pursued early in the process by ASU(still shaking my head). Meantime, it seems as though Kevin Sumlins strategy at Arizona is to recruit more in Texas and pursue a select few in Arizona…
I am becoming more and more intrigued by the Sun Devils home matchup with Michigan State on September 8th. The Spartans are getting a lot of national run for winning 10 games last season. HOWWWWEEEVVVEERRR…The Spartans lost to Ohio State 48-3 and 38-18 to Notre Dame. Yes, they do return 19 starters, but I wouldn’t automatically put this one down in the L column for ASU…
Former Arizona Wildcats Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell were both on the Philadelphia 76ers playoff roster. Bayless was paid 8.5 million dollars to sit and watch during the 76ers playoff run, while McConnell was a spark plug. The Sixers own the rights to McConell next season at a bargin basement price of 1.6 million dollars(ranks him as the 121st highest paid guard next season according to HoopsHype.com)…
Major League Soccer executives are coming back to the Valley in the next couple of months to look at the progress of a stadium location for Rising FC. Having another sellout crowd last Friday night against LA Galaxy ll, continues to the strong narrative that the Valley will support Major League Soccer if the franchise is granted is later this year. Rising has sold out all but one of their matches so far this season…
Congrats to former Valley TV personality Daryn Kagen, named this past week as a contributor to the CBS Sunday Morning show…
Double congrats to former Valley News Anchor Kaley O’Kelly, who made the tough(but right choice in my opinion) to walk away from local tv in Dallas(for now). Kaley will never regret the decision. I speak first-hand…
Anyone care to give former Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart a pat on the back for picking up starting pitcher Matt Koch from the Mets for Addison Reed? 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA is nothing to sneeze at. Stew made some poor deals(they ALL do) but Koch has been a lifesaver early in the season…
Rumblings of a 6th all-sports radio station considering coming onboard in the Phoenix market…
In a year that has already brought us Sister Jean, UMBC, and Nick Foles winning a Super Bowl, why not the Vegas Golden Knights?…
