Razorback basketball teams add one
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorback men’s and women’s basketball teams each announced a new signing Wednesday for their
2018-19 rosters.
Men’s head coach Mike Anderson announced the addition of junior college transfer Mason Jones, of Connors State College.
Jones joins the Razorbacks after finishing his freshman season as a Cowboy, where he averaged
15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The 6-5 guard started 25 of 35 games last season, including each of the final 23 contests. Jones finished in double figures in scoring 28 times, including nine 20-point games and two 30-point efforts.
“With Mason coming to Fayetteville, we feel like we landed a perimeter player who brings all the attributes we embrace in our program,” said Anderson. “He is an outstanding student, a person of character and has great basketball IQ. He is really skilled, can score the basketball, rebounds and plays with an edge. Mason comes from a great family, and we look forward to having him join our program this summer.”
In a win over Eastern Oklahoma State College, Jones led the Cowboys with 33 points, going 12of-20 (.600) from the floor, including 8-of-11 (.727) from behind the arc. On the season, he shot 51.5 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from deep and
77.4 percent from the free throw line.
Jones recorded four five-assist games and pulled down 10-plus rebounds nine times, including a season-high 18 against Redlands Community College, where he also had a season-high six assists. He tallied nine double-doubles last season.
Arkansas will return only two of its top 10 players in minutes per game for next season. Leading scorers Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon both graduated, as did fellow junior college transfer Arlando Cook and four-year lettermen Anton Beard and Trey Thompson.
Freshman center Daniel Gafford announced on March 26 he would return for his sophomore season, but perimeter players C.J. Jones, sophomore, and Darious Hall, freshman, announced earlier this month they would transfer out of the program. The only other top returnee is Adrio Bailey, a sophomore forward who was ninth on the team in minutes and averaged 4.1 points per game.
Women’s team signs Barnum
FAYETTEVILLE — Head women’s coach Mike Neighbors and his staff welcomed the addition of Erynn Barnum on Wednesday.
Barnum singed her National Letter of Intent Wednesday, joining the Razorbacks from Little Rock Central High School under the direction of head coach Michael Green. Barnum is the second signee for the 2018 class, joining Rokia Doumbia, of IMG Academy, who signed in November. Transfers Chelsea Dungee and A’Tyanna Gaulden will also be eligible to play for the Razorbacks next season.
Barnum, a 6-2 forward, led the Tigers to a 1910 record. She averaged 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds,
2.2 steals and 1.8 assists per game as a senior. She played her club ball for Ed Durham and the Arkansas Mavs Joe Johnson Elite team.
Some of her honors include a pair of all-state selections in 2017 and 2018, all-conference selections in 2016 and 2017, all-tournament team at the Fayetteville Lady Bulldog Classic, M.V.P. honors at the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic, The Downtown Tip Off Club Outstanding Player of The Month, participation in the Metro Classic Game and selection to the Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Game.
“Erynn’s signing is another great step in our progress with our women’s basketball program,” Neighbors said. “Attracting the state’s top prospects is something our staff is focused on doing year in and year out. Her play throughout her career, but especially in her senior campaign, gave all who watched her plenty of evidence that she can compete in the Southeastern Conference.
“Her commitment helps us to continue building our roster with student-athletes that other league teams were also recruiting. Her versatility is a perfect match to our style of play and her unique size/ skill ratio will be valuable against the taller teams currently ahead of us in the conference standings. We can’t wait for Erynn to join Rokia, Chelsea, and A’Tyanna to the court for next season.”
Reddies announce three signings
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State men’s basketball coach Jimmy Elgas announced three signings on Wednesday.
“We are extremely excited to add these three student-athletes to our program,” Elgas said. “They are exactly the kind of players, students and people we want to be a part of our special program at Henderson. All three have won games at a very high level, with two winning state championships their senior years.”
Hailing from Bauxite, Graham Chenault was a standout for the past two seasons, averaging 16.3 points, five rebounds and 1.5 assists per game as a senior to earn Tri-Lakes Player of the Year.
“Graham has a very high basketball IQ and is a multidimensional player,” Elgas said. “Graham plays very athletic, but is extremely fundamental, in that he has the ability to dribble, pass and shoot. His work ethic is second to none. Graham has a great pedigree coming from a great high school basketball program, as well as being brought up in a basketball family.”
A native of Red Oak, Okla., Grayson Nix joins the Reddies after leading the Eagles to a Class B state title as a senior in 2018. In his final season, Nix powered Red Oak to a 29-5 record, and poured in 26 points in the Eagles’ 47-46 state championship game victory over top-seeded Earlsboro, which included the go-ahead bucket with only seconds remaining.
“Grayson is another perimeter player with a very high basketball IQ ,” Elgas said. “He can really shoot the ball from the perimeter, which sets up his shot fake and uncanny knack to create offense for himself and others. Grayson is another tough minded leader, which shows in how he led his team to a state championship this year.”
A transfer from Arkansas-Fort Smith, Jeremiah Toney comes to Henderson by way of Little Rock Mills, where he helped lead the Comets to the 2017
5A state title as a senior. He averaged 11.5 points and
8.5 rebounds per game in his final season at Mills. “Jeremiah is a very gifted athlete, who really competes and plays with a high motor,” Elgas said. “He is very versatile with the ability to play inside and out. Jeremiah has a championship mindset and is a great teammate, which helped him win a state championship for coach Raymond Cooper at Mills High School in 2017.”
Henderson golf signs Perkins
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State golf coach Forrest Schultz announced the signing of Brady Perkins to the men’s golf program for the 2018-19 season.
A native of Southlake, Texas, Perkins was a three-year varsity letterman at Southlake Carroll and helped lead the Dragons to a runner-up finish at the 2018 District Championships and a regional appearance. Perkins was the Overall Boys Champion at the 2017 MSU PGA Golf Management Lashing at Lantana, after shooting a personal-best 6-under-par 66 in the first round and carding a two-round score of 2-under-par 142.
“We are extremely excited to add Brady to the 2018 class,” Schultz said. “Brady is going to be a great fit with our players and program. He is a fantastic ball striker and has already shown the ability to shoot low numbers. We can’t wait to get him here and watch his game continue to grow.