Jeff Pendergraph, PF

Pendergraph established himself as one of the most efficient and productive players in school history, setting Sun Devil records for games played (126) and started (120). His 1,588 points (12.6 per game) ranks sixth on the school career list, just ahead of Byron Scott's 1,572.

The consummate team player, he led the Sun Devils in charges taken with 15 in 2008-2009 and 16 in 2007-2008. Pendergraph's 942 rebounds (7.5 per game) rank second in school history. He led the nation in field goal percentage and set a school record in his senior year (2008-09) as he was 198 of 300 (.660), the best mark by a Pac-10 Conference player since Todd MacCullouch of Washington led the nation at 66.2 percent in 1998-99. He also ranks high on ASU career charts for field goal percentage (third at 58.0 percent), free throws made (second at 366), double-doubles (fourth with 29) and blocks (sixth with 131).

Pendergraph earned his degree in economics in just 3 1/2 years and established himself as one of the best post players in the Pac-10. He has impressed not only on the court, but also away from the court, with his demeanor and attitude toward fans, student-body, media and the ASU community. He was involved in fund raisers and has also visited local hospitals, a way of paying back for the attention he received while battling back from having a benign tumor removed from his left leg when he first arrived on campus as a freshman.

At Etiwanda High School, he was a teammate of UCLA's standout point guard, Darren Collison. The pair helped the squad compile a 31-3 record during his junior year, as they went undefeated in Baseline League games and reached the Southern California regional final.

As a senior, Pendergraph averaged 9.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for a talented squad that went 31-2 and was ranked second in the nation. He earned "Best in the West" second-team honors from the Long Beach Press-Telegram and was ranked at the 62nd-best prospect in the nation by Hoop Scoop.

Pendergraph graduated from high school early and enrolled at Arizona State for summer classes in 2005. He earned Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman honors in 2005-06, despite missing all of fall conditioning and most of November after surgery to remove a benign tumor in his left leg. He averaged 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field, earning 22 starts in 27 contests.

In 2006-07, Pendergraph was an All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention. He again led the team in rebounding (9.1 per game) and paced the Sun Devils by shooting 55.1 percent from the floor, the third-best field goal percentage in the league that year. He totaled 363 points (12.1 per game) to go with 22 blocked shots and 26 assists while starting 29 of 30 games.

Pendergraph was a third-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection in 2007-08. He guided ASU with 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting 59.3 percent from the field (12.4 per game), which saw him rank third in the league in field goal percentage. He blocked a career-high 56 shots in 34 games.

As a senior, he received All-Pac 10 Conference first-team accolades. He became the first player in school history to lead the Sun Devils in rebounding (8.2 per game) four consecutive seasons. He led the nation with a career-high 66.0 percent shooting from the field, making 198 of 300 field goals to go along with 287 rebounds. He also totaled 30 blocked shots and registered 31 assists.

Positives: Highly efficient inside scorer who shows good execution muscling his way to the rim and has enough lateral agility for a big man to box out and set screens … Also shows good timing and elevation with his perimeter defense … High-energy type who displays good intensity, using his impressive wingspan (7-feet-1) and reach (8 feet, 11 inches) to contest shots … Has the strength to establish position under the basket and displays the reach (11 feet) to be quite effective crashing the boards -- only player in school history to lead the team in rebounds four consecutive seasons … Not the type that will take foolish shots, knowing his range limitations … Gets the bulk of his scoring working inside and making dunks (made 58.0 percent of his field goals during his career, leading the nation with a school season-record 66 percent of field goals made in 2008-09) … Punishing low-post scorer with the quick stride to get up and down the court with ease … With his

strong defensive personality, he has the ability to log minutes at center and power forward at the NBA level, despite lacking great size for a pro pivot … Instinctive player with good court vision … Physical rebounder with good hands to catch or pass the ball … Strong cutting to the basket and gets most of his scoring activity in the paint … Puts the ball on the floor efficiently and has developed an effective jump-hook … Has decent quickness and works hard for the offensive rebound … Generates good explosiveness to finish around the basket … Has solid low post skills and improved his ability to beat his man off the dribble … Shoots jumpers with either hand in the low post, but feels more comfortable going to his right in tight quarters … When he sets his feet, he gets good elevation attacking the rim to block the shot … Moves around the court well for a player his size … Is most effective taking the ball to the basket … When he times his leaps, he can set his feet and elevate for one-handed dunks … Works well within the framework of a motion offense, especially working in unison with his guards on pick-and-roll plays … Establishes his position under the board for put-backs and has quick reactions and soft hands … Plays with good intensity and uses his quick hands to deflect shots on drives into the lane … Shows good body contortion going for the off-target rebounds and uses his large hands well to finish in transition … Has improved in attempts to draw contact on the way to the basket.

Negatives: Strictly an inside scorer … Lacks range from more that 10 feet away from the basket and defenses don't roll to cover him when he parks along the perimeter (0 of 9 from 3-point range) … Not really effective at creating his own shot and while his passing has improved, he is prone to turning the ball over when he puts it on the floor … Has just average size for a power forward and will have to improve what is currently good -- not great -- strength in order to combat more physical frontcourt players in the NBA … Has had good success muscling through for the rebound, but even with his 35-inch vertical jump, he is sometimes too slow leaving his feet to get enough elevation to contest shots above the rim … Good soldier but lacks the extra special ingredient to be the focus of an offense … Can play out of control when running the floor and is prone to foul trouble because of his high-level effort … Can be indecisive with the ball … Will bite on pump-fakes and lacks the agility to recover.

Compares To: MIKKI MOORE-Boston -- While Pendergraph is an all-out battler, he has just average athleticism. He excels as a scorer in the low post, but lacks even an effective mid-range shot. If backed down in the NBA, his scoring touch will all but disappear. He is a good role player and knows his limitations, making up for deficiencies with intensity and good off-ball movement.

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

All-American third-team choice by The NBA Draft Report, as he led the nation with a school season-record field goal percentage of .660, making 198 of 300 attempts for 509 points (14.5 per game) … The All-Pac-10 Conference first-team selection also led the team in rebounding for the fourth consecutive season (287 total, 8.2 per game), the first player in school history to achieve the feat … Shot 77.9 percent from the foul line (113 of 145), as he dished out 287 assists (0.9 per game) with 43 turnovers, 30 blocked shots (0.9 per game) and 17 steals (0.5 per game) … Scored in double figures 27 times, including seven 20-plus point efforts, as he totaled at least 10 rebounds in 13 times and produced 11 double-double performances … Helped ASU post 25 wins for just the third time in school history and for the first time since 1974-75 … Led the team to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in 14 seasons and for just the fourth time in 28 seasons.

Earned All-Pac-10 third-team honors, as Pendergraph started all 34 games, ranking third in the league in field goal percentage (.593), as he made 153 of 258 field goals, but missed on his only 3-point attempt … Also hit on 115 of 145 free throws (79.3 percent) to finish with 421 points (12.4 per game) … Led the team for the third straight year with 218 rebounds (6.4 per game), as he also produced a career-high 56 blocked shots (1.6 per game) … Had 67 turnovers, 29 assists (0.9 per game) and 15 steals (0.4 per game).

Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 Conference honors, as Pendergraph started 29 of 30 games … The sophomore led the team in scoring (12.1 per game, 363 total) and rebounding (9.1 per game, 272 total) … Ranked second in the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (.553, 145 of 263), rebounding and offensive rebounding (3.93 per game), as he was fourth in minutes per game (33.6 per game) … His 19 rebounds in each of the Oregon and Colgate contests were the most by a Sun Devil since Mike Batiste had 20 vs. Wagner in 1997.

Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman Team selection … Started 22 of 27 games he played in, missing all of fall conditioning and most of November after fall surgery to remove a benign tumor in his left leg … Ranked second on the team with a 14.7-point average (295) and led the Sun Devils with 165 rebounds (6.1 per game) … Among the league's freshmen, Pendergraph

Ranked second in scoring, third in rebounds, third in field goal percentage (.494, 115 of 233) and led the first-year players with 23 blocked shots … Posted 15 double-figure scoring games (eight of final nine) and averaged 13.0 points and 8.3 boards in his final six contests … Produced five double-double performances, with two coming vs. Arizona.

Set school career records by starting 120 games and appearing in 126 contests … Became the 30th player in ASU annals to score over 1,000 points in a career, as his total of 1,588 points placed him sixth in school annals behind Eddie House (2,044 points; 1996-2000), Jeremy Veal (1,984; 1994-98), Ike Diogu (1,946l 2002-05), Ron Riley (1,834; 1992-96) and Stevin Smith (1,673; 1990-94) … His 611 field goals made tied Joe Caldwell (1961-64) for seventh on the school all-time record chart … His field goal percentage of .580 is topped by only Mario Bennett (58.7 percent, 1991-95) and Kurt Nimphius (58.6 percent, 1976-80) on ASU's career-record list … Made 366 free throws during his career, ranking behind Ike Diogu (671) and James Harden (373, 2007-09) in Sun Devils history … Registered 29 double-double performances during his career, the fourth-best career total by an ASU player … Blocked 131 shots, the sixth-best career total by a Sun Devil … His 942 rebounds rank behind Tony Cerkvenik (1,022 from 1960-63) in school annals … His rebound average of 7.5 per game is good for eighth in Arizona State history … Holds the school season-record by making 66.0 percent of his field goal attempts in 2008-09 (led the nation), topping the previous mark of .630 by Trent Edwards (1988-89) … His 287 rebounds in 2008-09 placed 13th on the school season-record chart.

2005-06: Missed the exhibition schedule and most of November recovering from surgery to remove a benign tumor from his left leg.

Attended Etiwanda (Cal.) High School, playing basketball for head coach David Kleckner … Teammate of UCLA's standout point guard, Darren Collison … The pair helped the squad compile a 31-3 record during his junior year, as they went undefeated in Baseline League games and reached the Southern California regional final … As a senior, Pendergraph averaged 9.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for a talented squad that went 31-2 and was ranked second in the nation … Earned "Best in the West" second-team honors from the Long Beach Press-Telegram and was ranked at the 62nd-best prospect in the nation by Hoop Scoop.

Graduated with a degree in Economics … Son of LaDona Pendergraph … Born 4/29/87 in Ontario, California … Resides in Etiwanda, California.