FAYETTEVILLE – The 2022 Arkansas men’s basketball signing class is complete and is ranked #2 in the nation by both ESPN.com and 247Sports.com.
Class Notes:
- Highest rated recruiting class in school history (#2 247Sports Composite - #2 ESPN - #3 247Sports - #5 Rivals)
- First time to sign two, 5-stars in the same class
- In fact, Arkansas now has only signed six, 5-stars since 2004.
- Also, Nick Smith Jr., and Jordan Walsh are the only two Razorback signees to rank among the ESPN top 10 (dating back to 2007)
- Nick Smith Jr., and Jordan Walsh are on the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy Watch List
- Arkansas had never had a class with at least four players among the ESPN top 100 until Eric Musselman’s arrival and his staff has done so twice (class of 2020 and class of 2022)
- Since 2004, only four recruiting classes have ranked among the top 10 and Musselman’s staff owns two of those – class of 2020 was #5 ESPN / #9 247Sports and class of 2022 ranks #2 in both ESPN and 247Sports.
6-6, 195, G
Mobile, Ala. / McGill Toolen Catholic HS
- 4-Star – 76th overall by ESPN / #20 small forward in the nation
- 4-Star – 91st overall by 247Sports Composite / #25 small forward in the nation
- 3-star – 125th overall by 247Sports / #32 small forward in the nation
- 3-Star – 131st overall by Rivals / #36 small forward in the nation
- Rated #1 player in the state of Alabama by ESPN, 247Composite, 247Sports
- 2021 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year
- 2021 first team Class 6A All-State selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association
- 1 of 5 statewide players selected to the ASWA Super All-State Team
- Averaged 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior for the Yellow Jackets … Also recorded 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game
6-3, 200, G
Magnolia, Ark. / Magnolia HS
- 4-Star – 55th overall by 247Composite / #10 combo guard in the nation
- 4-Star – 58th overall by Rivals / #11 shooting guard in the nation
- 4-Star – 59th overall by 247Sports / #11 combo guard in the nation
- 4-Star – 68th overall by ESPN / #13 shooting guard in the nation
- 2021 Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year
- Rated #3 player in the state of Arkansas by ESPN and 247Sports
- 2021 Class 4A Player of the Year by the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association
- 2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first team All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions)
- Led the Panthers to a 23-1 record and the Class 4A semifinals in 2021
- Averaged 23.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a junior
- Class 4A State Tournament MVP as a freshman and sophomore, leading his team to back-to-back championships (2019 and 2020) … Had 54-game win streak snapped in the 2021 4A state semifinals, falling to Morrilton
- As a sophomore, tabbed first team Arkansas All-State team by MaxPreps
- Has a 4.0 GPA
6-6, 185, F
Morrilton, Ark. / Morrilton HS
- 4-Star – 93rd overall by ESPN / #16 shooting guard in the nation
- 4-star – 98th overall by 247Sports Composite / #27 small forward in the nation
- 3-Star – 125th overall by Rivals / #34 small forward in the nation
- 3-Star – 135th overall by 247Sports / #34 small forward in the nation
- 2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first team All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions)
- Led Morrilton to the 2021 Class 4A title game as a junior
- Averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game as a junior … Shot 58% from two-point range, 40 percent from three and 74 percent at the free throw line
- As a sophomore, averaged 18 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 steals … As a freshman, averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block
6-5, 185, G
North Little Rock, Ark. / North Little Rock HS
- 5-Star – 6th overall by ESPN / #4 shooting guard in the nation
- 5-star – 8th overall by 247Sports / #3 combo guard in the nation
- 5-Star – 9th overall by 247Composite / #3 combo guard in the nation
- 5-Star – 16th overall by Rivals / #2 point guard in the nation
- At #6 by ESPN, is the third-highest rated player to ever sign with Arkansas trailing Corliss Williamson (ranked either #1 or #2 by all the recruiting services) and Al Jefferson (ranked #3 by 247Sports and #4 by Rivals in 2004).
- On the 2021-22 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School Player of the Year Watch List
- Consensus #1 player from Arkansas by the recruiting websites
- 2020-21 MaxPreps Arkansas High School Basketball Player of the Year
- 2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions) Player of the Year … Averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
- 2020 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Underclassman of the Year … Averaged 21.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals
- Played at Sylvan Hills as a junior and sophomore
- In the summer of 2021, led Brad Beal Elite AAU team to a 6-2 record and the finals of Peach Jam while averaging 18.6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game … Scored 31 points (10-of-18 shooting) in the championship game and became the first player since NBA star Michael Porter Jr. to score more than 30 in the finals.
6-7, 200, F
Desoto, Texas / Link Year (Mo.) Prep
- 5-Star – 7th overall by ESPN / #2 small forward in the nation
- 5-Star – 27th overall by 247Composite / #7 small forward in the nation
- 4-Star – 31st overall by Rivals / #11 small forward in the nation
- 4-star – 38th overall by 247Sports / #10 small forward in the nation
- Rated #1 player from Texas by ESPN and #2 in the state by 247Sports
- On the 2021-22 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School Player of the Year Watch List
- 2021 4A All-State as named by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches
- According to ESPN.com, has a 41-inch vertical and a 7-foot-3 wingspan … Is one of the best two-way players in the high school game
- In the summer of 2021, played for Drive Nation program on the Nike EYBL circuit and averaged 12.3 points, 7.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting better than 50% inside the arc … Tallied three double-doubles, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist effort
- As a junior at Oak Cliff’s Faith and Family Academy, averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 blocks per game for a squad that finished 25-6 and advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals
- Also led the Eagles to the state semifinals as a sophomore before the remainder of the state tournament was canceled due to COVID-19
- As a freshman, led Faith and Family to a 36-6 record and its first Class 4A state title … In fact, his dunk just before the final buzzer provided the 53-51 victory against Liberty Hill
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.