By Otis Kirk Special to the Nate Allen Sports Service

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' Eric Musselman has landed another quality player from the transfer portal with the addition of Wichita State guard Ricky Council.

Council, 6-6, 204, played two years for the Shockers. On April 21 Council entered the transfer portal. He had previously declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on March 28, but kept his college eligibility.

On May 3, Council announced a Top 6 of Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Kansas and Iowa State. At Durham (N.C.) Southern Durham Council was a three-star recruit. He was at Arkansas last weekend on an official visit.

In 2021-22 with the Shockers, Council played in 28 games and averaged 26.6 minutes per outing. He averaged 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, shot 43.7 percent from field, 30.6 from deep and 84.9 at the free throw line.

That followed a freshman season when he saw action in 21 games while averaging 15.6 minutes each game. Council averaged 7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, shot 42.1 percent from the field, 44.4 from behind the 3-point line and 63.6 at the charity stripe.

Council is the fifth transfer to join a talented recruiting class that includes six from the high school ranks, three five-star recruits as well as a trio of four-stars. The other transfers are Missouri's Trevon Brazile, 6-9, 215; Arizona State's Jalen Graham, 6-9, 205; and the Rhode Island pair of Makhel Mitchell, 6-9, 230, and Makhi Mitchell, 6-9, 225.

Arkansas is still awaiting final word on junior Jaylen Williams returning. He has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft without hiring an agent. He is one of 76 athletes invited to the NBA Draft Combine that will be May 18-20 in Chicago. If Williams were to return to Arkansas then another player would have to leave since Council makes 13 players on scholarship now. At this point the two remaining players from last year's squad are junior guard Davonte Davis and redshirt senior forward Kamani Johnson.