Expect growing pains from young Hogs
Arkansas head men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson said on Monday freshman guard Khalil Garland has not yet been cleared to return to play. His continued absence from the team is one of many uncertainties that currently define Anderson’s program.
Garland’s health is paramount to any concerns about his playing future, but the freshman guard was made into somewhat of a mythical missing piece at the end of last season. Arkansas finished 23-12 after losing as a No. 7 seed to Butler, a 10 seed.
I read questions asked if Garland could have been the point guard Arkansas needed to truly be a top team. The theory argued none of senior guards Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon or Anton Beard distributed the ball to run the offensive as effectively as possible.
This wildly misses on the fact the 6-5 Garland was recruited as a shooting guard. He averaged
13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in his senior season.
Two assists per game. He also appeared to be the least dynamic of the Hogs’ top in-state prospects showcased in the state finals the past several years at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
The main point is just not to expect Garland or any other newcomer to come in and save this Arkansas team, down six seniors and two significant transfers from last season.
The top prospects proved it last season for the Razorbacks. All-Southeastern Conference center Daniel Gafford and Darious Hall had standout freshman seasons for Anderson.
The program was lucky to have Gafford forego being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft next month, but Hall and sophomore C.J. Jones requested transfers. Hall is headed to DePaul and Jones will go to Middle Tennessee State.
Anderson deserves credit for luring all of the top in-state talent in the past couple of seasons and looks to do so for the next several years. Fort Smith Northside’s Isaiah Joe and Jonesboro’s Desi Sills, both 6-2, have the potential to be dynamic guards on the perimeter. Little Rock Parkview 6-8 forward Ethan Henderson will likely be Gafford’s de facto backup.
Redshirt freshman Jalen Harris, 6-2, will likely slot into the starting point guard position. The New Mexico transfer sat out last season after averaging 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game as a freshman.
Anderson had high praise for Harris, comparing him to former Razorback point guard Kareem Reid, and the rest of the signing class earlier this week during his celebrity golf tournament in Rogers. He will likely need an out-of-state signee such as
6-2 IMG Academy guard Keyshawn Embery, 6-8 Findlay Prep forward Reggie Chaney or 6-7 Grace Prep forward Jordan Phillips to make a significant impact as well.
Arkansas can also hope 6-5 Connors State swingman Mason Jones becomes a late surprise. He averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Cowboys in Division II of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Anderson did not nab Connors State’s leading scorer from last season. Ra’Shawn Langston, a 6-3 guard out of eStem in Little Rock, led the Cowboys with 20.1 points per game last season and signed with Louisiana Tech, joining Hot Springs product Exavian Christon and the Bulldogs in Conference USA.
Arkansas’ final 2018 signee,
6-10 Ibrahim Ali, was not academically eligible last season at Maumelle. He averaged four points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as a junior and previously signed with Baylor.
That is a lot of length and athleticism. Anderson has the pieces for an entertaining team, but the results could be more frustrating than exciting until the team can grow up and grow together.