Harden, Bayless shine...

College basketball enthusiast Darren takes a look at tonights McDonalds All-American game in which the West defeated the East, 114-112.

Fans finally got a chance to see future Sun Devil James Harden (Artesia High School) in action. Harden took part in the 30^th annual McDonald’s All American game, playing for the West team, and gave Arizona State fans even more reason to be excited for the future of their basketball team.

Harden entered the game after the first timeout and the 6’5” shooting guard made an immediate impact tipping the ball away from an opposing player to force a turnover. Soon after, Harden showcased his athleticism and quickness with an impressive one handed dunk on a fast break. Harden scored a few more times as the game progressed and finished with eight points. The West eventually trumped the East, 114-112.

In his senior campaign, Harden averaged 18.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.6 rebounds per game. Harden’s play helped propel Artesia to their second straight California Division III State Championship title. Other participants in the McDonald’s All American game attending Pac-10 schools next year included Jerryd Bayless (Arizona), Kevin Love (UCLA), and O.J. Mayo (Southern California).