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Weekly UpdatesArkansas basketball fans are advised to ignore the recruiting rankings of this incoming signing class: Likely those rankings won't be kind to the Razorbacks.
There are only two new Hogs listed among Rivals.com top 150: forwards Marshawn Powell (72) and Glenn Bryant (No. 146). Only Powell ranks in Scout.com's top 100 prospects, at No. 62.
It's a different story than the 2008 class, which was regarded as a top 20 group overall. Arkansas is nowhere to be found in collective rankings this year.
What those rankings don't measure is how each team filled its needs. Arkansas appears to have filled several, assuming its incoming class and current players make it to campus this fall.
Depth was an issue for the Razorbacks throughout 2008-09. Arkansas had a very limited rotation and coaches never felt comfortable forcing the uptempo style they prefer with so few available players. By the time Arkansas lost 73-59 to Florida in the SEC Tournament, the Razorbacks played just six players 15 minutes or more.
Arkansas addresses that need with its incoming class.
Beyond just adding extra bodies, this group of players should give the Razorbacks an additional point guard, defensive help and low-post scoring. Arkansas could still use an additional shooter and better size on the perimeter, but that will have to wait at least until the next class.
And, about that 2008 class that ranked so high? Four players who signed with Arkansas are no longer part of the program. One, Daniel Payne, never made it to campus. His replacement in the class, Montrell McDonald, only lasted a semester. Big men Andre Clark and Brandon Moore departed this spring after one season and limited playing time.
Provided they play better than their rankings, Arkansas should get nice contributions out of several members of its incoming class. Here's a look at the seven incoming signees:
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Anthony Borden
Pos. C
Ht., Wt. 6-11,220
Previously West Memphis HS
Breakdown There aren't many guys this size out there, especially within the state. Arkansas is gambling a bit with Borden, a sizeable but raw prospect who averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. Borden's offensive skill set hasn't quite caught up with his body. It wouldn't be shocking to see Borden spend a year in prep school to continue his academic and athletic development.
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Glenn Bryant
Pos. F
Ht., Wt. 6-6, 200
Previously Oak Hill(Va.) Academy
Breakdown: Bryant has an uncanny knack for blocking shots, finishing with 200 over 41 games. Those 4.8 blocks per game might not carry over to the college level, but Bryant could provide some defensive help on a team that often struggled to defend the interior. Ideally, the winning that Bryant experienced at one of the nation's elite prep programs also will carry over. Bryant averaged 11.1 points as the basketball factory finished 40-1.
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Jemal Farmer
Pos. F
Ht., Wt. 6-5, 215
Previously Cloud County(Kan.) Community College
Breakdown Lack of big perimeter players might have hurt the Razorbacks as much as anything in 2008-09. Farmer helps there, giving Arkansas another option besides troubled swingman Jason Henry. Farmer averaged 17.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game as an All-Jayhawk Conference selection. Farmer should be able to help defensively and is said to be capable of guarding shooting guards or small and power forwards.
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Delvon Johnson
Pos. PF
Ht., Wt. 6-9, 220
Previously Indian Hills (Fla.) Community College
Breakdown Statistically, Johnson is the least impressive of Arkansas' signees. He averaged 6.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Those individual numbers aren't eye-catching, but the optimists will point out that Johnson played on a junior college team that lost three times in 33 games and sent nine players to Division I basketball schools. Numbers are going to be hard to come by on a team with that much talent, right?
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Julysses Nobles
Pos. PG
Ht., Wt. 6-2, 175
Previously Jackson (Miss.) Callaway
Breakdown Another member of the recruiting class that Arkansas coaches hope will carry over a winning attitude from the previous stop. Nobles' high school team earned a state championship and Nobles was runner-up as Mr. Basketball in Mississippi after averaging 20.9 points, 6.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. More than anything, Nobles is most important because he should be able to spell Courtney Fortson at point guard. Arkansas lacked a true backup there last year and it showed.
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Marshawn Powell
Pos. PF
Ht., Wt. 6-7, 230
Previously Crozet (Va.) Miller School
Breakdown No player in the recruiting class will mean more to the Razorbacks than Powell. He is expected to be the additional low-post scoring threat the Razorbacks desperately need to complement Michael Washington. Powell will have a learning curve like any incoming player, but his knack for getting position and working angles inside should help. Powell continues to work academically after averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks for a private school state champion in Virginia.
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Jeff Peterson
Pos. G
Ht., Wt. 6-1, 185
Previously University of Iowa/DeMatha (Md.) High School
Breakdown Peterson can't provide immediate on-court help because he'll be sitting out to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Where the sophomore transfer can help is in the classroom and locker room, plus he'll provide an additional body in practice. Peterson averaged 10.6 points and 4.2 assists per game for the Hawkeyes last season. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.0 assists as a freshman.
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PELPHREY'S BIGGEST RECRUIT
When 6-foot-9 forward Michael Washington announced in mid-May that he would withdraw from NBA Draft consideration and return for his senior season, it was probably the best spring news possible for John Pelphrey and the Razorbacks. For what it's worth, Washington actually informed the media before he told the UA coaching staff; Razorback coaches were pleasantly surprised. Washington averaged 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds (tops in the SEC) a game in 2008-09.
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