Anderson says freshman Garland still not cleared
ROGERS — Arkansas head men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson did not have a positive status for freshman guard Khalil Garland when he met with media on Monday during his annual celebrity golf tournament.
The tournament at the Shadow Valley Country Club benefits his charitable foundation.
Anderson was asked if he had any medical news that could change Garland’s status. The freshman from Little Rock Parkview redshirted last year because of a medical condition that did not allow him to be cleared to play.
“He still hasn’t been cleared to play,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the team remains hopeful Garland’s condition can improve to the point he can be cleared.
“We’ll see what takes place as the summer goes on and we get into the fall,” Anderson said. “We’ll see where we are at that point in time.”
Garland remains a student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks return but three scholarship lettermen from last season’s 23-12 team. Returnees include All-Southeastern Confer-
ence sophomore center Daniel Gafford, sophomore forward Gabe Osabuohien and junior forward Adrio Bailey.
Anderson said it is more important than ever for the nearly brand new team to start bonding when they report to Fayetteville at the end of the month to ready for the start of summer classes.
Arkansas had been on the list of teams scheduled to play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, but the Razorbacks are no longer headed there with the tournament still in limbo from facility damage caused by Hurricane Maria last September.
“At this time we’re not planning on it,” Anderson said. “We’re not going to be able to go there.”
Anderson did not make any new announcements for next season’s nonconference schedule.
“Obviously, you know we’re playing Texas in the opening game in the Armed Forces Classic out in El Paso,” Anderson said. “We also are in the process of learning … of course the SEC-Big 12 Challenge will be coming up this year as well. We’ve also got to go to Colorado State. That’s where we play those guys. But we’re right there at the cusp of really kind of hammering out our schedule right now.
“It’s unfortunate what took place there. And I’m sure that they’ll eventually get the tournament back down there. I don’t know where it’ll be at this year.”
Anderson’s tournament attracts a number of former Razorback basketball greats, including coach Nolan Richardson, Todd Day, Oliver Miller and Charles Balentine, in addition to former Arkansas golfing great John Daly. Former players in attendance included Bobby Portis, Blake Eddins and Dusty Hannahs.
Also in attendance were coach Tubby Smith, a friend of Richardson and Anderson and a respected rival against the Hogs, and Rob Evans, the former Ole Miss and Arizona State head coach, as well as an assistant at Arkansas.
The tournament has benefited various projects, including Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, prostate cancer treatment and prostate cancer research.
The prostate cancer aspect hit home hard to Anderson upon attending the recent funeral of Mike Slive, who was previously the commissioner for the SEC. Slive was also commissioner for Conference USA when Anderson coached for member Alabama-Birmingham.
“He was a big proponent of prostate cancer awareness,” Anderson said. “It’s something that’s in my family. So if I can help raise funds for that, then I’ll all for it. That’s what we’re doing here.” Anderson called Slive “a visionary.”
“He obviously was a brilliant man,” Anderson said.” He made a lot of guys happy. He made a lot of ADs happy and a lot of universities happy. But more than that, he was a down-to-earth kind of guy.”