MIAMI – It ended too early. About 10 minutes too early.

Throughout his career, ASU senior forward Jeff Pendergraph had problems staying out of foul trouble. His No. 1 demon showed up during Sunday’s 78-67 loss to Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA tournament, as he fouled out with 10:19 left.

He said it was the worst way to finish off his career. In retrospect, though, Pendergraph left American Airlines Arena feeling all right.

“I’m not like, super hurt right now,” he said. “From where I was before to where we’re at right now is so much progress. It’s just a great feeling to be a major cog in that progress.”

Yes, Pendergraph used the word cog in a sentence. He is a college grad, you know.

He’s also a lot more mature than the skinny, quiet 18-year-old who first arrived in Tempe as a freshman. After Sunday’s loss, he didn’t cry or have temper tantrums like he used to growing up. Oddly enough, Pendergraph actually seemed to be at peace with the whole situation.

Now, Pendergraph said he will take some time off to just relax. Make no mistake, though, he will be hard at work in a few weeks to prep for the NBA Draft.

When asked him what it would be like to be drafted by his hometown Los Angeles Lakers late in the first round, Pendergraph said he wouldn’t be pleased. Not even the exorbitant amount of guaranteed cash could sway him.

“You know how competitive I am,” he said. “I’m trying to be like top 10. That’s even more guaranteed money [if I’m a lottery pick].”

He also made some comments that could make training camp awfully awkward if he ends up getting drafted by the Lakers.

“They got a couple of people I could learn from over there,” Pendergraph said. “I mean, I’ll take Luke Walton’s job. Lamar Odom’s starting to get a little older. He can start teaching me stuff.”

Pendergraph leaves ASU as the all-time starts leader and as the link between the pre and post-Sendek era. Three years ago, the Sun Devils lost in the first round of the Pac-10 Conference tournament and were among the conference’s worst teams. Now he’s seen the program elevate to new heights, something even he didn’t believe could happen in such a short time.

So why not give the man some recognition?

“I see myself soon probably being in the little [ASU] hall of fame thingy,” Pendergraph said. “My picture being up somewhere. Once we get the practice facility I hope my name will be somewhere over there too.”

Unfortunately, it’s a wrap for one of the most colorful characters to ever come through ASU. No more classic quotes about coach Herb Sendek’s lack of a sense of humor. No more death threats from teammate Eric Boateng. No more hilarious Tuesday press conferences.

“It’s going to suck [leaving my teammates],” Pendergraph said. “I’m going to miss them, they’re my boys. They’ve been with me my whole time. But it’s all right, I’ll be able to come back sometime and kick it – let ‘em know that I run things.

“Looking back at the whole picture now, it’s not time right now to look back at [Sunday’s] game. Just as a whole, I’m reflecting on my whole career. It’s been really positive, I have no complaints about it.”

Reach the reporter at
alex.espinoza@asu.edu