Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg has ‘something to prove’
By his own admission, Carlton Bragg’s last two years with the Jayhawks didn’t go as planned, and the criticism ensued. As he explored programs to embark on his next chapter of his college career, an official visit to the Sun Devils promptly sold him on the program. Less than 24 hours from the end of that trip he became ASU’s newest addition.
“I liked the culture there and the atmosphere,” Bragg said. “I’m from Cleveland so weather was a big part of it (his commitment) as well. The campus is beautiful. I didn’t expect it to be that big and that beautiful. The players, the coaches…I just trusted them and the school felt like home to me. I hung out with Kodi (Justice) and he kept it real with me. He told me how much the program needed me, and that I could help them go to the tournament.
“Coach Hurley said that I can impact the program and make it better than it is. I’m an all-around player. I can shoot the ball, pick and pop, pick and roll…I feel that I can do everything. I just need to get stronger.”
When Bragg decided to transfer out of Kansas, one of his first calls was to Arizona State assistant coach Anthony Coleman, who the forward knew from his AAU playing days. With today’s decision, naturally this relationship and the comfort level with Coleman payed sizeable dividends for the Sun Devils.
“I’ve always been friends with Anthony and I reached out to him,” Bragg commented. “I asked him if he had any interest with me possibly joining the program and we took it from there. He’s a great guy and you don’t see him as a coach because you see him as a friend. He’s teacher, someone that can mentor you but he’s also a friend away from basketball.”
Earlier in the process Bragg, a 2015 McDonald’s All-American, was considering schools such as Illinois, Xavier, and Cincinnati. While he was planning to eventually visit other schools aside from ASU, his experience in Tempe quickly convinced him that the alternatives available could not match his strong and swift sentiment to the program.
“When I got there I already knew where I was supposed to be,” Bragg remarked. “I told my parents about it and we just made the best decision for me. Coach Hurley is all about the building the program. Watching the E:60 on coach Hurley you can tell he’s a tough guy. So, he’s a coach that will push me to my full potential and get me to the next level as well.”
As a sophomore with the Jayhawks Bragg averaged 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes a game. He did serve a three-game suspension during that season due to a violation of team rules. He realizes that he comes to ASU with a chance to redeem himself and he’s plenty motivated to prove his critics wrong.
“I always have a chip on my shoulder,” Bragg stated. “For me it’s time for a re-start and really go out and something to prove to everyone who doubted me.”
Bragg's addition is a significant boost to what was a thin front court depth for the Sun Devils, and marks the last available scholarship Arizona State had to give. In recent weeks, the program landed two other transfers in Zylan Cheatham a 6-8 220-pound forward who was a four-star prospect and Top-100 player out of high school, as well as Rob Edwards a 6-4 guard who averaged 16.5 points per game at Cleveland State.
