Arkansas Razorbacks’ history of 5-star basketball recruits

College college students, get a yr of HawgBeat protection for just $11.95! Request particulars by using electronic mail from your school account (.edu) to [email protected].

There was a time when Arkansas landing blue-chip potential clients in basketball was not only unsurprising, but rather predicted.

In actuality, during a 17-12 months interval from 1980-1996 that spanned the Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson eras, the Razorbacks had 12 distinctive McDonald’s All-People in america on their roster.

That was prior to Rivals and other recruiting solutions grew into prominence, but gamers like Joe Kleine, Ron Huery, Todd Day, Lee Mayberry, Corliss Williamson and Kareem Reid would have almost certainly been regarded 5-star potential customers again in the day.

It was not right until the early 2000s that the five-star expression became synonymous with recruiting and, sad to say for Arkansas, that coincided with Richardson’s departure and the subsequent spiraling of the application off the countrywide phase.

That is why the Razorbacks’ 2022 haul – which includes a trio of five-star recruits in Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh – is these types of a massive offer.

Prior to this class, Arkansas experienced landed just 4 five-star potential customers due to the fact the Rivals150 rankings started off in 2003, a span of 19 a long time.

The Razorbacks essentially went just about a ten years with out a five-star recruit in basketball. That is especially shocking looking at that involving 2014-21, a complete of 55 distinct schools – which include each and every SEC group besides Arkansas, Ole Miss and South Carolina – landed at minimum a person.

If head mentor Eric Musselman can proceed making on back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, though, it is really probably a secure guess that the pursuing listing will develop in the several years to arrive…

An international prospect from Toronto, Famutimi moved to Michigan to finish his substantial university profession and evolved into a McDonald’s All-American. Rated as high as No. 7 (ESPN) in the exact same course that provided LeBron James, he was pursued by the likes of Duke, Kentucky, Louisville and North Carolina, but in the long run selected Arkansas around Missouri and Memphis.

Famutimi was the crown jewel of Stan Heath’s first signing class at Arkansas, which incorporated four Rivals150 players. Regrettably, a torn ACL suffered his senior 12 months of high school hindered his insane athleticism that allowed him to dunk at just 11 a long time old and he under no circumstances lived up to his prospective.

Even though he landed on the 2004 SEC All-Freshman Workforce, Famutimi averaged just 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in two seasons with the Razorbacks before declaring for the NBA Draft subsequent his sophomore season. He went undrafted and used time in the D-League with a couple of teaching camp and summer league opportunities sprinkled in, but most of his professional job was put in overseas.

Actively playing for a smaller faculty in Mississippi, Jefferson put up monster stats in higher university. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound big person led Prentiss Superior to a state championship as a junior and then dropped 56 factors in a semifinal loss the up coming calendar year, capping a senior year in which he averaged 42.6 factors, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks.

Those quantities helped him land on the McDonald’s, Parade and United states These days All-The usa teams, as very well as draw lots of interest from scouts – school and pro, alike. Jefferson dedicated to Arkansas over Mississippi Point out and LSU, but ultimately, the Razorbacks could not defeat out the NBA.

Back when gamers could go professional straight out of significant school, Jefferson declared for the NBA Draft and was taken 15th all round by the Boston Celtics. He appreciated success at the qualified stage, averaging 15.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in the course of his 14-calendar year NBA career. He was a 2nd-group All-Rookie choice in 2005 and landed on the All-NBA 3rd team in 2014.

A 6-foot-3, 175-pound position guard from St. Louis, Youthful asserted himself as a person of the top players in his class with a sturdy demonstrating at the NBA Leading 100 Camp in 2010 and adopted it up by top McCluer North Large to a condition title whilst averaging 28.6 points.

Committing to the Razorbacks more than Indiana, Baylor, Marquette and other individuals, he was the centerpiece of Arkansas’ stellar 2011 recruiting course that was meant to help save John Pelphrey’s work. Pelphrey continue to acquired fired, although, following failing to make the NCAA Match for a third straight year.

Young opted to stick with Arkansas and new coach Mike Anderson and was named second-workforce All-SEC as a freshman in 2012. He averaged 15.2 details, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 helps in excess of two seasons with the Razorbacks just before declaring for the NBA Draft. Immediately after likely undrafted, Youthful expended some time in the D-League, but most of his qualified profession has been abroad.

Even with currently being a McDonald’s All-American, Portis finished his recruitment early by committing to Arkansas in August of his junior calendar year and never wavered, even when the likes of Baylor, Florida and Kansas arrived contacting.

He led Small Rock Hall to four straight point out championships – two apiece at the Course 6A and 7A degrees – and also helped the Arkansas Wings win an AAU nationwide championship along with potential higher education teammate Moses Kingsley.

When he arrived in Fayetteville, Portis lived up to the buzz. Subsequent a stable freshman calendar year that saw him gain 2nd-workforce All-SEC accolades, he gained SEC Player of the Calendar year and was named a 2nd-crew All-American immediately after averaging 17.5 factors, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as a sophomore in 2015.

Portis was the 22nd general pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and has performed for four diverse franchises about the past six seasons. Most not long ago, he was a key member of the Milwaukee Bucks crew that received the 2021 NBA Championship.

2003 – Ronnie Brewer – No. 29 (fourth 4-star)

2004 – Steven Hill – No. 37 (seventh 4-star)

2006 – Michael Washington – No. 35 (fifth 4-star)

2011 – Ky Madden – No. 32 (sixth 4-star)

2017 – Daniel Gafford – No. 31 (next 4-star)