Small forward big on Razorbacks’ style of play
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff have commitments from two of the top prospects in the nation for the 2013 class, but they are also hoping to add highly recruited small forward Troy Williams.
The two Arkansas commitments, Little Rock Hall power forward Bobby Portis,
1 6-9 / 2, 220 pounds, and center Moses Kingsley, 6-10, 220, of Huntington Prep in West Virginia are rated as the No. 13 and No. 52 prospects in the country by national recruiting analyst Van Coleman of Hot100hoops.com.
Williams, 6-7, 200, plays for Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and is rated as the No. 37 prospect in the nation by Coleman. He has narrowed his list to Arkansas, North Carolina, Indiana, Alabama, Ohio State and Louisville, according to his uncle, Boo Williams.
Boo Williams said the Hogs’ up-tempo style of play is the main reason for his nephew’s interest.
“I think that’s very important to him, and I think Coach Anderson does a very good job in his style of play,” Williams said. “I go back to the days of Nolan Richardson, and the style of play is very important to him.”
Troy Williams plans to officially visit North Carolina for its Midnight Madness and plans to make an official visit to Indiana. Boo Williams said the Razorbacks also could receive a visit.
“He’s saying that might be one of the schools he takes an official to,” Boo Williams said. “He hasn’t set a date yet.”
Coleman, who is also national director of basketball for XOFan.com network, said he thinks Williams is a perfect fit for Anderson’s offensive and defensive philosophies.
“Troy is an athletic wing that can flat out slash and attack the rim with a bounce,” Coleman said. “He has solid ball skills and can stick the pull-up jumper off the dribble.”
oo Williams said Anderson and associate head coach Melvin Watkins are doing an excellent job of recruiting his nephew.
“Coach Anderson and Coach Watkins are really working Troy hard,” Boo Williams said, “really recruiting
him hard.” CUMMINGS OFFERED Mississippi junior college defensive lineman Darious Cummings was hoping for a scholarship offer from Arkansas, and late Wednesday night he received one.
Cummings, 6- 3, 300 pounds, 4.84 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays for East Mississippi Community College in Scooba and already has a scholarship offer from Mississippi State. He also believes Mississippi and Florida will offer soon. Texas and Texas A&M are expected to visit his school next week to watch him practice.
Cummings called Arkansas defensive tackles coach Kevin Peoples about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday and was informed the Razorbacks were extending him a scholarship offer.
“I just told him thank you and it was a honor for them to give me one,” Cummings said.
Cummings signed with Florida State in 2010 but was granted a release from the Seminoles in the spring and enrolled at East Mississippi in June. He said he likes that Peoples and his defensive line coach, Jimmy Brumbaugh, are similar.
“Coach Peoples is like the coach I’m currently playing for right now,” said Cummings, who plans to make an official visit to Arkansas on Oct. 13 for the Kentucky game. “The technique is the same, the teaching is the same, their philosophy and mind-set on how to play that position are the same.”