From Lever to Ortiz, Devils have recruited Tucson well
I parked outside El Saguarito Mexican restaurant late Tuesday afternoon just as the ASU Caravan — a big bus painted maroon and gold — parked.
About 50 or 60 Sun Devil fans greeted ASU athletic director Ray Anderson and basketball coach Bobby Hurley. One of the boosters told me it was a wasted effort.
“They never get a good recruit from Tucson,” he said. “This is never going to be an ASU market.”
I went home and compiled this list of Tucson-to-Tempe recruits who have made Tucson a very productive market for the Sun Devils.
1. Lafayette “Fat” Lever, Pueblo High, point guard. Honorable mention All-American 1982. Retired jersey hangs in the ASU rafters.
2. Eric Larkin, Sunnyside wrestler. Undefeated national champion 2003.
3. Jim Crawford, Rincon, pitcher. Won 33 games at ASU, fifth in school history.
4. Jackie Vasquez, Catalina Foothills, softball. First-team All-College World Series 2008 for ASU national champs.
5. Don Hanna, Rincon, pitcher. Went 15-1 in 1976 on College World Series team.
6. Shawn Charles, Santa Rita, wrestling. Four-time All-American, NCAA runnerup 1992 and 1993. Later ASU’s head coach.
7. Carlos Ramirez, Sunnyside, baseball. First-team All-America catcher, 2009, 19 homers, 75 RBIs.
8. Mario Bates, Amphi, football. All-Pac-10 tailback, 1993, gained 1,111 yards.
9. Taylor McCarter, Sahuarita, women’s soccer. Team MVP 2013, second team All-Pac-12, started 80 straight games.
10. Kevin Dukes, Sahuaro, pitcher. Closer on 1981 College World Series championship team, 20 career saves, then second in school history.
11. Eddie Urbano, Sunnyside, wrestling. NCAA wrestler of the year, 1985, undefeated national champion.
12. Steve Martin, Sahuaro, baseball. Starter in baseball, outfielder, and football, receiver, in 1988 and 1989.
13. Sybil Dosty, Salpointe, basketball. Two-year starter, 35 straight starts, 2008-09, honorable mention All-Pac-12.
14. Randy Sooter, Amphi, gymnastics. Eight-time national collegiate club team champion in late 1990s.
15. Marc Barcelo, Sahuaro, pitcher. First-team All-Pac-10, 1993, went 12-4, third-team All-American.
16. Chris Hopkins, Salpointe, football. Gained 1,584 yards as a starting tailback, 1993-95.
17. Ted Dyson, Amphi, baseball. First-team All-Pac-10 first baseman, 1986, hit team-leading .379.
18. Kevin Thomas, CDO, football. Starting center on ASU’s 1987 Rose Bowl championship team.
19. Ryan Schroyer, CDO, baseball. Led ASU in ERA in 2002 and 2003, 17 saves, tied for sixth all-time at school.
20. Thom Ortiz, Sunnyside, wrestling. Three-time All-American, finished No. 2 in NCAA in 1990, and later became ASU’s head coach.
That’s a rounded-off list of 20. My master list was at 37 when I shut it down and realized ASU has thrived recruiting Tucson’s elite athletes.
