razorbacks
By Nate Allen
FAYETTEVILLE - With previously verbally committed 5-star and 4-star guards Nick Smith of North Little Rock and Derrian Ford of Magnolia signed over the weekend and officially part of the 2022-2023 Razorbacks following their 2021-2022 senior high school season, Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman Monday finally could publicly discuss his entire 5-man entirely from high school recruiting class.
Last Wednesday’s start of the November early signing period began with 5-star forward Jordan Walsh of DeSoto, Texas, 4-star forward Joseph Pinion of Morrilton, and 4-star guard Barry Dunning of Mobile, Ala. signing with the Razorbacks.
Signing three heralded from Arkansas makes Musselman potentially harvesting his second consecutive big time instate crop having for last year’s Elite Eight team signing as freshmen All-American Moses Moody, a one-and-done inked by the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, and returning sophomores Jaylin Williams, a center/power forward from Fort Smith Northside, and guard Devo Davis of Jacksonville, both starters last season and this season, and guard KK Robinson of Little Rock whose 2020-2021 season was prematurely ended by a broken foot and strives now to get in the rotation.
“You know I thought the class with Moses, Jaylin, Devo and KK was a phenomenal class,” Musselman said. “Didn’t know if we would get four guys of that quality in the same class but maybe two or three. But to have this class of the group of guys talent wise but also as people. And then to have them sign. You go back in time Devo was the only one that signed early.”
Musselman said it’s huge having all five signed now rather than needing continued recruiting through the February signing period.
“What this does is it allows us to have a more in depth relationship with the players,” Musselman said. “There is a limit to only see the guys seven times if they are not signed. And we were about up on a couple of them. And so this changes. We can see their games. We can talk about them. I think it’s important moving forward both for the player and for us that it’s more than just a verbal commit because there's things pertaining to the rules that we're now able to do some more things with like watch them unlimited. And then being able to promote them on our website and talk about them and all those things are really important."
They come heavily promoted, ranked No. 2 by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com and No. 5 by Rivals according to the UA sports information department.
Since he had commented at length last week on Pinion, Walsh and Dunning, Musselman was asked Monday to comment on Smith, 6-5, and Ford, 6-3, now that they are officially signed.
“Nick is a special, special player,” Musselman said. “He was as good as any player at the highest, highest level of AAU. I don't think there was anybody at the guard spot, I don't think I saw anybody even close to him at times. Confidence wise, being able to go from an off guard to a point guard.”
Physically, Ford,6-3,. 200, is billed the strongest in the class.
“Derrian is a guy that's so strong, so explosive,” Musselman said. “So, I think each guy we have now in this class possesses something special that makes them unique to our system. think to keep the three in-state guys (Smith, Ford and Pinion) was really important. All three talented, all three bring a different dimension but all the guys are important. All five of them have significant importance to us.”
While the five signees continue practicing with their high schools, Musselman’s 2-0 nationally 16th in the AP poll Razorbacks prepare to play Northern Iowa University, 1-2, of the Missouri Valley Conference Wednesday night at Walton Arena.
Tip-off is 7 p.m. on the Razorbacks Radio Network and Internet video available on SEC Network +.