Razorback sophomore forward Trevon Brazile (#2) from Springfield, MO answers questions from the media after practice at the Basketball Performance Center in Fayetteville, AR.
By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Last season, Trevon Brazile was trying to help Missouri beat Arkansas, but now he's a Razorback.
Brazile, 6-10, 200, has three years of eligibility remaining. He played in 24 games last season with 22 starts. He led the Tigers in blocked shots 20 times. Averaged 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds and ranked third in the SEC (47th in the NCAA) in blocked shots (1.92 avg).
One reason Brazile was attracted to Arkansas was the NBA style that Eric Musselman brings to the team. The team is practicing for exhibition games they will play in Italy and Spain. Brazile has already noticed the NBA stuff that Musselman brings to Arkansas.
"Oh for sure," Brazile said. "I was watching the summer league this year - I was watching the Warriors, and just the stuff they kept doing is the stuff we're doing in practice. It just kept coming up, on the ball screens they were calling weak inside and we do weak inside. Coach Muss just does a great job of incorporating NBA-type drills into our practices."
Jaylin Williams is now with the Oklahoma City Thunder and several other Razorbacks from last season are gone. Kamani Johnson and Devo Davis are the only returning scholarship players from 2021-22. Musselman is counting on Brazile to help in the post.
"We have a lot of guys that kind of offer different things," Musselman said. "Jalen Graham is a player is kind of a go-to guy like he’s a scorer innately with his back to the basket and has some crafty spin moves. And Makhi Mitchell is really, really explosive. explosive and really strong. Makhel is a bigger, physical player inside. Obviously Kamani, a great offensive rebounder and a high free throw attempt player.
"And then Brazile is a really, really unique player. He’s one of our best shooters. He’s really good on the perimeter. Probably his position on the next level is as small forward. We’ll play him primarily at the 4 because we have 4 centers. But he will play some center, probably really early even on this four-game European tour when we try to play small ball."
Musselman was asked about the team's ability to shoot and he paid Brazile a very high compliment.
"Brazile at the 4 spot should be one of the best stretch 4s in the country," Musselman said.
Brazile feels like this team has plenty of size and length which, outside of Williams last season, many considered one of the team's areas of need.
"We've got four guys with over 7-2/7-3 wing span, so, off the rip that's crazy," Brazile said. "I've never seen a team that wasn't an NBA team have that kind of length. Also at our guard position, our length at that is crazy. So I just think that basically our length and athleticism will take us really far this year."
The current trip itinerary includes:
Depart Fayetteville on Aug. 6 and arrive in Valencia, Spain on Aug. 7
GAME 1 – Aug. 9 in Valencia, Spain
GAME 2 – Aug. 11 in Barcelona, Spain
GAME 3 – Aug. 13 in Lake Como, Italy
GAME 4 – Aug. 15 in Lake Como, Italy
Return to Fayetteville on Aug. 16.
Razorback head basketball coach Eric Musselman gives direction to his Hogs during practice at the Basketball Performance Center in Fayetteville, AR.