Just more than nine months ago, Ka’Deem Carey sat in the Canyon Del Oro High School gym with his family and friends as he was set to announce the biggest decision of his 17-year-old life.

ASU or Arizona?

With a media mob on hand and anticipation building, Carey’s mother pulled an Arizona hat out of a box. Carey chose the Wildcats.

“It was a split decision, but this is my hometown and I love the support,” Carey said.

At the time, there was one advantage ASU had over the Wildcats, according to Carey. Carey said he almost chose ASU because of its new jerseys.

“They’re sick,” he said with a laugh.

Last season, Arizona was a program on the rise. The Wildcats had just been to three straight bowl games and were expecting a big 2011 season in Nick Foles’ senior year. ASU, on the other hand, once again had big expectations but had yet to live up to the hype.

Fast-forward nine months and ASU is now 6-4, while the UA is 2-8. Does that hometown support still outweigh the prospects of playing for a better football team?

“I think I made a great choice to come here just because I know that we’re a better team,” Carey said.

But Arizona hasn’t been the better team in 2011. Despite its horrific season, Saturday’s game in Tempe is a chance for Arizona to add some good feelings to its lost season and Carey is chomping at the bit.

“It’s ASU, the school up the street,” Carey said. “I was thinking about going there but now it’s time to bring the heat.”

About half of his friends from high school go to ASU, and he knows a lot of people in the area, Carey said. He’s good friends with Sun Devil wide receiver and return man Jamal Miles, who took Carey on his recruiting trip. If Arizona gets the win, Miles is going to get an earful, Carey said.

“It would mean a lot,” he said. “He’s going to get a text message, that’s for sure.”

Carey, who has racked up 333 rushing yards, six scores, 156 receiving yards and a touchdown, was at last year’s ASU game to watch Arizona crumble in crunch time.

“We don’t want that feeling again,” Carey said. “Me just standing there watching it made me say I want a taste of that.”