Sun Devil Carrick Felix is an inspiration to students

Column by Nick Prete, ASU News

All around, the Sun Devils men's basketball team played one of their best games this season against Arizona. The underdogs in the contest, the Devils came out to win – and did just that.

Plagued by injuries and sickness in weeks past, this has been one of the healthiest games the team has had thus far. One player stood out though, even though he wasn't 100 percent. Carrick Felix was out the past two weeks due to illness but fought through the sickness to play in the rivalry game. According to the State Press, Felix was noticeably coughing after the game. But even with the sickness he still managed to put a career-high 23 points up to help pull the Devils to victory over the Wildcats.

“I just thought his energy today was contagious for our team,” ASU coach Herb Sendek said to the State Press. “He played to his strengths today and when he's playing an energy game, he's a good player.”

Felix put up 8-of-9 from the free throw line and shot 58 percent from the field. The junior put up these numbers after gradually ramping up practices throughout the week.

"He was in practice (Monday and), he actually looked good,'' assistant coach Scott Pera said to the Arizona Republic. "He was happy to be back and the guys were happy to see him."

With the flu season hitting full stride here at ASU, students can look to Felix as an inspiration. Even through sickness he pushed on and ended up being the highest scorer on the Sun Devils team in possibly one of the highest pressure games of the year. So when you're feeling sick and you know you can't miss a test or class that day, imagine about how Felix felt before the game and still gave it 115 percent.

Make sure to watch Felix, and the rest of the Sun Devils, take on Stanford tonight at 7:10 p.m., MST on FOX Sports Net. Go Devils!