Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE -  Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman and staff completed one of the most nationally heralded men’s basketball recruiting classes for the November signing period, adding over the weekend Nick Smith and Derrian Ford to the 2022-2023 class.

Both are high school senior star guards in Arkansas.

Smith, 6-5, formerly of Sylvan Hills and playing his senior season at North Little Rock High, signed Saturday.  He is rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, 247Composite and Rivals and on the Jersey Mike’s National Player of Year Watch List.

Smith averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists at Sylvan Hills last season.

Last summer Smith led the 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.  He 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.

Ford, 6-3 of Magnolia, is rated a 4-star by ESPN, 247Composite, 247Sports and Rivals. He led Magnolia to a 23-1 record last season and the Class 4A Semifinals  while averaging  Ave 23.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Last Wednesday, the opening of the national signing period, Musselman’s Razorbacks signed 4-star forward Joseph Pinion of Morrilton, 5-star forward Jordan Walsh of DeSoto, Texas and 4-star guard Barry Dunning of Mobile, Ala.

All have signed to report as Razorbacks freshmen for 2022-2023.