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Arizona State's first Pac-12 home contest Thursday night against Oregon has extra significance.

Five-star prospect Taeshon Cherry, a 6-9 small forward from Foothills Christian in El Cajon, Calif., is scheduled to be on hand during an official visit. Cherry originally committed to USC last June, the program's highest-rated recruit in a decade.

But with USC caught up in a national bribery investigation, Cherry changed his mind last month and opened his recruitment. Per 247 Sports, Cherry also plans to visit Texas A&M. Illinois, St. John's and Vanderbilt also are in the mix. A McDonald's All-American nominee, Cherry this season averages 20.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.

MORE ASU: The method behind ASU coach Bobby Hurley's courtside madness

On Dec. 26, The Los Angeles Times reported that Cherry was the USC recruit identified as "Player-8" in the federal criminal complaint against USC associate head coach Tony Bland. According to The Times, the complaint alleged that Bland, along with aspiring agent Christian Dawkins and financial manager Munish Sood facilitated the payment of $4,000 to a relative of "Player-8" to help steer the prospect to Dawkins and Sood once he reached the NBA.

Cherry's mother, Danielle, told The Times simply: "My son is not Player-8." 

Per 247 Sports' composite rankings, Cherry is the nation's No. 27 overall prospect and the No. 7 small forward. ESPN ranks him as the No. 1 player in California. His inclusion in coach Bobby Hurley's 2018 class would give the Sun Devils their best recruiting haul in decades. ASU already has signed guard Luguentz Dort and small forward Elias Valtonen, both 247 Sports four-star prospects.

Cherry last year played at St. Augustine High, where he led the Saints to the San Diego Open Division title. Per The San Diego Union-Tribune, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds, earning San Diego Section Player of the Year. In November, he transferred to Foothills Christian.

Since Cherry's USC decommitment, the Union-Tribune reported that several schools have expressed interest, including Arizona, UCLA, Florida State and Gonzaga. One college recruiter told the newspaper: "If this kid was toxic, if he was involved with the federal investigation, do you think all these schools would be interested in him?”

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An even bigger visitor

Former ASU star James Harden plans to attend Thursday's Oregon contest. Harden's NBA team, the Houston Rockets plays the Suns in downtown Phoenix on Friday. Harden has missed Houston's last five games with a hamstring injury. 

An old friend

When asked what stands out about Oregon, senior guard Shannon Evans joked: "Besides they stole my player?" 

He was talking about Kenny Wooten.

A 6-8 freshman forward, Wooten committed to ASU during a visit before the Sun Devils' game last season against No. 9 Creighton. He decommitted about four months later and ultimately signed with Oregon, where he has turned into one of the Pac-12's most promising freshmen.

Entering Thursday's contest, Wooten averages 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and a conference-best 3.1 blocked shots. Wooten's length causes problems at both ends, but lately he's had issues with foul trouble. He's fouled out of two or Oregon's first three conference contests.

"Kenny, that's my guy. We talk a lot," Evans said before turning serious. "They're a great team. They have a great program. They're well coached, but I feel like it's all about us right now. We're just trying to get back on track, trying to get our streak going and things like that."

Thursday's game

Oregon at No. 11 ASU

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Arena.

TV/radio: FS1/Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Streaming: Fox Sports Go app.

Outlook: The Sun Devils (13-2, 1-2) are coming off Sunday's 80-77 win at Utah, which earned them a split of the Rocky Mountain schools. ... Guards Shannon Evans (16.9 ppg) and Kodi Justice (13.7) both broke out of shooting slumps. Evans hit 5 of 7 from 3-point range, while Justice hit 8 of 9 from 2-point range. ... Against Oregon, ASU needs more production from F Romello White. Its top post option, White has battled foul trouble and is averaging just five points in Pac-12 games. ... Oregon (11-5, 1-2) is coming off last week's 76-64 loss at Oregon State. ... After losing his top five scorers off last season's Final Four team, coach Dana Altman is still figuring things out. G Payton Pritchard averages 15 points and 4.1 assists.

MORE: ASU basketball takes down wall in upper deck at Wells Fargo Arena

Live updates

No. 11 ASU basketball returns to Wells Fargo Arena from opening conference play with a three-game road trip to face the Oregon Ducks on Thursday.

Follow along with our live updates throughout the game later tonight.

 

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