Sun Devils like this return policy

James Harden’s awareness has grown considerably in the last year. The Arizona State guard knows when to sleep, knows when to eat, knows how to pay bills.

The basketball hasn’t been so bad either.

Those were the things that kept Harden in school after a 2007-08 season rivaling that of any freshman in the country, a considerable achievement considering some of the high-profile first-year players competing in the Pacific 10 Conference a year ago.

But although Arizona’s Jerryd Bayless, UCLA’s Kevin Love and USC’s O.J. Mayo were merely in holding patterns until they waited to become draft-eligible -- all were first-round picks -- Harden returned for his sophomore season.

In doing so, he became the stay-in-school poster child for every NCAA Division I coach.

“I just wasn’t ready to take the next jump,” said Harden, who played at Lakewood Artesia High. “I knew I had more to work on. I wasn’t ready to play in the NBA. I wasn’t ready to handle the traveling and being out on my own.”

Besides, he said, “the NBA will still be there.”

Pac-10 opponents probably wish Harden had been as aggressive in his decision making as he is with the ball.

The 6-foot-5 guard leads the conference with a 21.3 points per game average and with 33 steals. The Sun Devils (14-2 overall, 3-1 in conference play) come into tonight’s game at USC ranked No. 16 in the nation, and Harden is basking in the glow of his patience.

He was on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated’s season preview. ESPN’s Jay Bilas has called Harden “the best all-around player in the country.” His biography in the Arizona State media guides begins with, “the most famous Sun Devil southpaw since Phil Mickelson.”

Heady stuff, but par for the course for Harden these days.

Fame, though, wasn’t the motivating factor in Harden’s decision to return.

“I was still young, barely 18 last year,” Harden said. “You look at the guys in the NBA and they are all bigger and stronger and they have a lot more moves. I needed the year to mature. I know now how to take care of myself. I know when to eat. I know when to sleep. I take care of my body. I knew I needed to come back this year.”

That ran counter to college basketball’s one-and-done trend. The first three players taken in the 2008 NBA draft were freshmen -- Memphis’ Derrick Rose, Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and Mayo. By the time Bayless was taken at No. 11, six freshmen had been drafted.

“We are in an age where if you’re not starting as a freshman, you’re a failure,” USC Coach Tim Floyd said. “If you’re not an NBA first-round pick by the time you’re a sophomore, then something is wrong.”

Harden was willing to risk it, returning to improve and try to lead the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.

Being a draft dodger has also made Harden the role model college coaches can use when trying to persuade others to put off the NBA.

“I’m sure people say that, and he’ll be used as an example along those lines,” Arizona State Coach Herb Sendek said. “But really, everybody will have to evaluate that decision on the merits as they pertain to themselves.”

Arizona State’s visit this week will give local freshmen something to think about. USC’s DeMar DeRozan and UCLA’s Jrue Holiday may wrestle with similar should-I-stay-or-should-I-go decisions.

“James Harden came back and now he’s one of the top players in college basketball,” DeRozan said. “That makes a strong statement when a player of his abilities does that. It proves to everybody that another year doesn’t hurt.”

Harden’s numbers are up across the board. He is averaging 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and is shooting 56%.

His presence on the court is significantly higher and his drive to succeed sharper.

That was seen against Brigham Young on Dec. 20. The Sun Devils trailed the Cougars, 66-56, with nine minutes left. It was then, Harden said, “I decided I had to attack.”

Harden scored 12 of the Sun Devils’ last 20 points, including the free throw that gave them a 76-75 victory.

“He’s what great players are,” Floyd said. “He has the most efficient offensive game that I’ve seen in college basketball since Paul Pierce. He’s not a high-energy, high-activity guy as far as cuts and movement. But when he catches it, he’s poised and efficient with a high skill level, creating that first step.”

The next step is the question.

Harden was not ready to be one-and-done, but two-and-through may be the plan.

He has no interest in being a stay-in-school trendsetter but says, “When I leave, I want Arizona State to be a power. I want players like me coming here.”

And maybe even staying a while.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Take II

James Harden decided to come back for his sophomore season at Arizona State. His statistics:

*--* Rebounds Points G FG% 3P% FT% Tot. Avg. Asst St Tot. Avg. ‘07-08 34 52.7 40.7 75.4 179 5.3 3.2 2.1 605 17.8 ‘08-09 16 55.9 41.7 75.9 92 5.8 4.7 2.1 369 23.1 Career 50 53.8 41.1 75.6 271 5.4 3.7 2.1 974 19.5 *--*

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Tonight

USC VS.ARIZONA ST.

at Galen Center

7:30, 710 radio

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UCLA VS.ARIZONA

at Pauley Pavilion

8, Prime Ticket