James Harden named first-team preseason All-American by Sporting News
<p> The Arizona State men's hoops team is ranked 15th by Sporting News in its preseason magazine, and it also tabs 6-5 sophomore guard <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/harden_james00.html">J… Harden</a> with first-team All-America honors on its five-man team.</p><separator></separator><p>It marks the fourth top-25 preseason ranking for ASU and second selection at No. 15, as Blue Ribbon Yearbook also has ASU 15th. Athlon had the Sun Devils 16th while Rivals.com has ASU 25th in its preseason rankings.</p><separator></separator><p>ASU returns its top seven scorers from last year's 21-13 team that tied for the nation's lead in win improvement (13), as ASU was 8-22 in 2006-07 but went on to beat NCAA Tournament teams Arizona (twice), Xavier, Stanford, USC, Oregon and Coppin State last year. ASU is led by senior <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/pendergraph_jeff00.htm… Pendergraph</a>, a 2008 third-team All-Pac-10 selection and Harden, a first-team All-Pac-10 pick and the only returning All-Pac-10 first-team player from last season.</p><separator></separator><p>The Sun Devils open their season at home on Friday, Nov. 14, against 2008 NCAA Tournament participant Mississippi Valley State.</p><separator></separator><p>SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON TOP 25<br /> 1. UNC<br /> 2. UConn<br /> 3. Louisville<br /> 4. Gonzaga<br /> 5. Michigan State<br /> 6. Texas<br /> 7. Duke<br /> 8. UCLA<br /> 9. Pitt<br /> 10. Memphis<br /> 11. USC<br /> 12. Notre Dame<br /> 13. Purdue<br /> 14. Miami<br />15. Arizona State<br /> 16. Florida<br /> 17. Wake Forest<br /> 18. Marquette<br /> 19. Xavier<br /> 20. Davidson<br /> 21. Tennessee<br /> 22. Oklahoma<br /> 23. Saint Mary's<br /> 24. UNLV<br /> 25. Baylor<br /></p><separator></separator><p>ALL-AMERICANS<br />First team<br /> Tyler Hansbroug, UNC<br /> Blake Griffin, Oklahoma<br /> Austin Daye, Gonzaga<br /><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/harden_james00.html">J… Harden</a>, Arizona State<br /> Stephen Curry, Davidson<br /></p><separator></separator><p>Second team<br /> Luke Harangody, ND<br /> Earl Clark, Louisville<br /> Chase Budinger, Arizona<br /> Sherron Collins, Kansas<br /> Kalin Lucas, Michigan State</p><separator></separator><p>Third team<br /> Jon Brockman, Washington<br /> Hasheem Thabeet, Uconn<br /> Patrick Patterson, Kentucky<br /> Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's<br /> DeMar DeRozan, USC<br /></p>