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McGaha commits to ASU
Richard Obert
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 20,
2005 02:08 PM
Moon Valley High wide receiver Chris McGaha, The Republic's Big School Player of the Year, said Thursday
he prayed over his decision, before choosing Arizona State over Boise State and San Diego State.
"Weird enough, God
told me to be a Devil," said McGaha, who had one of his best performances in the Class 4A state championship game at Sun Devil
Stadium in December, when he helped lead a second-half comeback victory over Glendale Cactus.
McGaha, who is 6-foot-3,
195 pounds, is the fourth Arizona prep player to commit to the Sun Devils. He plans to sign on National Letter of Intent Day
on Feb. 2, along with Gilbert Highland offensive lineman Richard Tuitu'u, Peoria running back Keegan Herring and Thunderbird
defensive lineman Dexter Davis
"ASU had to get him," Moon
Valley coach Roger Britson said of McGaha, who set the school's receiving records. "To let him get away wouldn't have been
good."
McGaha caught 82 passes for 1,593 yards and 22 touchdowns on a 14-0 team. He also had 278 rushing yards and
1,089 yards in returns.
In the 4A final, Moon Valley erased a 34-6 halftime deficit and beat Cactus 45-34, as McGaha
had seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception in the game.
McGaha will have to give
up the number he wore in high school (9), which is worn by quarterback Sam Keller.
"It sucks, but I'll deal with it,"
McGaha said.
McGaha took his official visit to ASU last weekend, where he was led around by former Moon Valley tight
end Andrew Pettes, who didn't try to persuade McGaha to be a Sun Devil.
"He just told me what to expect," McGaha said.
McGaha
was a high-priority recruit for the Sun Devils. He is the first wide receiver to commit to ASU out of this class.
"It's
his hometown, and he wanted to make sure on his visit that it was still his hometown and feel like he was their own," Britson
said.
Coaching staff, a chance to win and play were important for McGaha in choosing which college to play football.
He felt Boise State and San Diego State also had those things going.
But ASU, being in the Pac-10, allows a much bigger
stage on which to excel, Britson said.
"I felt at home," McGaha said. "I mean, I felt comfortable with all the schools
I went to."
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