Could popular point guard Moe Odum be returning to the Arizona State men's basketball team? Maybe.
There are some loopholes to clear, but it is at least a possibility. New coach Randy Bennett still has a roster spot available with ASU at 14 scholarship players, one under the allowable limit. Both parties are reportedly interested in Odum running back his senior year.
Odum had signed with a professional league in Kosovo, but that was before he knew there was an option of returning to college.
Then came the Colorado court ruling allowing athletes who started their college careers in 2022-23 an extra year of eligibility. That ruling would include Odum, who did not actually play a game professionally.
Since Odum did not enter the transfer portal in the proper
window, if he returned to college, it would have to be at ASU.
The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists, shooting 40.6% from the field in his only season in Tempe. He scored 20 or more points 11 times, with his season-best of 36 points coming against Texas at the Southwest Maui Invitational. He also had 33 points in a Big 12 game against Cincinnati.
The Big 12 just passed a rule stating that any player who was on a professional roster would not be eligible to compete in the conference. Thus, the sticking point.
"We are still navigating the pro rules that are coming out. There is nothing definitive at this time," an ASU spokesman said.
Odum started his college career with two years at Pacific, then played for Pepperdine as a junior before being recruited over to ASU by previous coach Bobby Hurley, who parted ways with the school when the season ended.
Bennett is familiar with Odum because his Saint Mary's team played against Pepperdine when Odum was at that school.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: PG Moe Odum eyes final hurdle to return to ASU basketball
