ASU quick hits, featuring National Signing Day, the Battle of "McKale North" & other news

Oh yeah you know up here feeling it‼️ #bird gang‼️ pic.twitter.com/Ly00rlQBww

— Kareem Orr#⃣1⃣ (@ReemKnows1) January 18, 2015

Well, 2015 National Signing Day has come and gone, with Arizona State finishing up at #20 in the nation. CTG and his staff solidified their quarterback depth, officially inking top 5 pro passer Brady White and local Chandler product dual-threat Bryce Perkins. DJ Calhoun will have some new talent joining him and the linebacker core in this coming year, with the signings of outside linebackers Khaylan Thomas and Malik Lawal, along with athlete Jay Jay Wilson who split time at linebacker, defensive end and tight end in high school. Those three are just the cherry on top, coming a couple months after coveted JUCO inside linebacker Davon Durant enrolled early and is expected to start at Devilbacker next season. Not to be forgotten, the other half of the front 7 added 5 new players, headlined by 4-star defensive end Joseph Wicker. TE Thomas Hudson also signed on the dotted line, joining Yuma native Raymond Epps in the effort to replace De'Marieya Nelson next season. And last but not least, athletes Jaason Lewis, Stanley Norman and OG Zach Robertson round out the rest of the 4-star recruits joining the program next season.

Overall, none of these people are Snoop Dogg's child (which makes me weep on the inside), but following a season where freshman played early and often, this is an extremely solid follow-up. Despite the fact we may only see Davon Durant get serious time in his freshman year, this class could include our quarterback of the future in Brady White or Bryce Perkins. It may take a couple years to get an accurate evaluation of this bunch, but Todd Graham has definitely laid a solid foundation down for our already promising future.

ASU since has learned from Nike, whose contract since 2005 to outfit ASU athletes, coaches and staff ends in June, that it will no longer make ASU gear for retail sale.

"Nike's decision to discontinue retail products for ASU and Sun Devil athletic fans once our relationship ends in July 2015 was a decision made solely by Nike," ASU said in a statement. "ASU is willing to continue to work with Nike as a licensee, and it continues to be open to considering all licensees interested in producing retail items for Sun Devil fans.

"The Adidas agreement does not prevent ASU from working with other licensees to produce apparel for fans. We are very confident Adidas' apparel, including its exclusive Sun Devil sideline gear, will provide fans of all ages with a wide range of dynamic products."

Nike did not respond to requests for comment.

- Jeff Metcalfe, azcentral

Apparently, the Greek goddess of victory is a sore loser. Like I said before Mr. Knight: it's not you. It's us. You were our stable rock for years. You guided us into the post-Sparky era. You put all of Todd Graham's absolutely bonkers slightly insane catchphrases on a high quality T-shirt, no broke college student could ever reasonably afford. We had some good times; some good, good times.

But, have you seen Adidas lately?  These guys are handling out cheetah print Porsche 911's like they're going out of style, while Snoop Dogg's been burning his 81 blunts a day in identical sets of three. Even fashion god Kanye West is dropping sneakers for the almighty Trefoil. Still wondering why we bailed Nike? Because Pharrell (and his Fountain of Youth) makes us very, very happy... ok, well that and the money. Hit it Yeezy!

Things that are cool... pic.twitter.com/qtdSpCrcbm

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 8, 2015

It feels good to say I've touched the Wells Fargo hardwood two years in a row. While nothing beats the drunken debauchery of the original when the Sun Devil faithful prematurely launched onto the floor, its sequel has a certain je ne sais quoi to it. A completely over matched, rebuilding ASU hoops team welcomed the arguably better 2015 rendition of 'Zona basketball, to what they have deemed "McKale North." And what do we do? Come out fired up and endure the comeback to finish the upset.

Arizona basketball may always be more successful than us. They've always been more successful than us. They could make and win the National Championship game this year.

But, defending our home court is our National Championship and for two years running, we own our floor. I will drink to that.

The real question stemming from that game is: which is better? Jahii's circus lay-up last year with the shot clock winding down or Bo Barnes' #BoBomb three pointer to essentially put the game way this time around?

Ok, the Savon Goodman oop is in the running too.