re: Arkansas Basketball Recruiting Thread *Muss Years Archive - do NOT delete*

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Taylor Bowen has had an unlikely journey to get to where he is now - one of the top prospects and recruits in the country. The son of refugees, born in a refugee camp, has now become the target of some of the top college basketball programs in the country and the best is still yet to come for the top-25 prospect.

"My parents fled the South Sudanese war and I was born in Egypt in a refugee camp and then I moved to the States a few months after I was born to a small town in Vermont," said Bowen.

As his family began building their new life in the United States, Bowen and his brother found their love and passion out on the basketball court.

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He is a long and athletic forward standing 6-foot-8, 185-pounds with the potential to be one of the best defenders in the country who can also make highlight reel plays in transition, can attack off the bounce and can make plays for his teammates.

The talent and upside he has developed since he was young have caught the eyes of several top programs across the country and now holds more than 20 scholarship offers where he can take the next step to achieve his dream of making the NBA.

Of those 20 opportunities, he said four have made him a priority - Duke, Arkansas, Kansas and Providence - and at the National Prep Showcase, a Kansas assistant spent two days tracking him and Jon Scheyer made the trip to see him on Saturday morning.

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Arkansas: "I love coach Muss [Eric Musselman], he has shown the most love out of all of the coaches. He's been texting me a lot and showing love. I really appreciate that and their culture really shows and I think he shows out all of the time. He's really prideful about Arkansas, about being a Razorback and it shows."

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He's really prideful about Arkansas, about being a Razorback and it shows."

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UConn transfer Saylor Poffenbarger is currently on campus for her official visit.

She was the first 2021 recruit that Neighbors offered.

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The Hogs backcourt got even deeper on Friday, as Head Coach Mike Neighbors announced the addition of Saylor Poffenbarger. Poffenbarger, who will transfer to Arkansas from UConn, will not appear in games until the fall of 2022.

“My staff continues to amaze me in their ability to cultivate and maintain the relationships so vital to recruiting the best student-athletes to be Razorbacks,” Neighbors said. “That coupled with the unprecedented success of all 19 sports on our campus right now, we have truly created a competitive village that elite players want to be a part of. When you walk through the Jones Center, you see SEC Champions and National Champions. You see people who are chasing excellence. Saylor Poffenbarger is exactly that. Razorback fans will sense that immediately and she will impact our team, university and city for the next four years.”

The Hogs continue to pile up quality players in Fayetteville, as Poffenbarger was a highly touted player coming out of Middletown High School in Maryland. At the time of her signing, Poffenbarger, a 6-2 guard, was ranked as the 30th player in the country in ESPN’s 2021 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Neighbors and the Razorbacks now have three of the top 30 players from that class, as Jersey Wolfenbarger was ranked seventh, while Maryam Dauda was ranked 13th. Poffenbarger will also be the second player that hails from Maryland on the roster, as Makayla Daniels is originally from Frederick, just 10 miles west of Middletown.

“Saylor is a great person who has a lot of potential. Wherever she goes, she’ll be able to reach her goals and benefit her future home,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. “We wish Saylor and her family the best as she continues her career.”

During her brief career at women’s basketball powerhouse Connecticut, Poffenbarger played in 12 games, but received limited minutes. She scored three points twice, which was her career-high, during her brief stint in Storrs. In high school, Poffenbarger did it all – during her junior season at Middletown High, the last year of her high school career due to COVID, she averaged 21.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Poffenbarger was a two-time Frederick News-Post Player of the Year, and was named Ms. Basketball in Maryland in 2020. She also has international experience, as Poffenbarger won gold at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. She averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the tournament.

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Taylor Bol Bowen came in at No. 29 in the 2023 Rivals150. Playing this summer with The Expressions 16u team on the EYBL circuit and at Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy, the lengthy, 6-8 forward has caught the eye of many college programs.

“I feel like I am a two-way player who can impact the game on both ends of the floor,” Bol Bowen said. “Of the schools who have offered, I would say Duke, Providence, Kansas and Arkansas are the school talking to me the most. ...

“I am just looking for a school that is going to showcase my versatility offensively and defensively. And a school that is all about development, getting better from day one to the day I leave; whether that be one year, two years, three years, I want to be better the day I leave than I was the day I arrived. Prepare me for the NBA.”

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Arkansas: “They are talking to me about coming in, working, and developing. They are talking about developing me into a star and really just get to work with you and help me achieve my dreams.”

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The size of Bol Bowen jumps out at you immediately. He has legit height, and then his length takes things to another level. Bol Bowen shines on defense. He has the feet to slide with perimeter guys and the length and anticipation of playing in the passing lanes. His offensive game is still developing, but he moves fluidly and can excel in transition. He has an all-league type defensive upside.

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An early evening game between North Little Rock (Ark.) High and Dallas (Texas) Kimball figured to deliver fireworks and it did, just not quite in the way that many might have expected.

On the NLR side you had Arkansas bound five-star combo guard Nick Smith Jr. and on the Kimball side you had five-star Texas bound point guard Arterio Morris. While Smith came out flat and struggling from the field, Morris hit a few threes and started the game personally outscoring NLR 8-2 in the first few minutes. Morris was excellent throughout, but the real story of the game was the play of another five-star in Oregon bound big man Kel'el Ware.

It took the near seven-footer for North Little Rock who is currently ranked No. 14 nationally by 247Sports a little while to make his presence felt, but once he got going, he was problematic on both ends. He dominated on the glass, scored at will above the rim and altered or blocked one shot after another. His play in the paint helped his team erase a double-digit deficit and finally earn a win when his teammate Smith hit a pull-up in the lane with 1.7 seconds left to secure a 72-70 win.

For the night, Ware had 23 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks while converting on 10-15 field goals and had Oregon assistant Chris Crutchfield was smiling ear to ear because he’ll get to coach him next winter. Despite a poor night shooting (3-14 FG) Smith finished with 15 points, five assists and the game winner. In a losing effort, Morris was tremendous netting 23 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists.

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During the month of July, 2024 prospects David Castillo and Tre Johnson shared the same backcourt for Team Griffin’s 16U team during Nike’s EYBL. On Friday, they faced off and each put together eye-opening performances.

A 6-foot-2 combo guard at Bartlesville (Okla.) High, Castillo engineered a win and looked very much the part of a player who will earn a spot in 247Sports introductory ranking of the class of 2024. He went for 28 on the afternoon and did so in quite efficient fashion needing just 14 shots. Castillo displayed a high level of skill off the dribble with several hesitation and change of direction moves, was under control and when you combine that with tough and accurate (6-8) shot making from deep……. well, then, you have a guy who is a problem to defend. Castillo already holds several high major offers and has been on the campuses of Arkansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State.

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Playing alongside five-star senior Anthony Black (who was outstanding with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists) and facing a loaded Corona (Calif.) Centennial squad, Holland was the most impactful player on the court from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

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Five-star center Baye Fall is beginning to look at visits as he starts his junior season at Denver Prep Academy. Fall is currently being recruited hard by Arkansas, USC, Auburn among others and plans on taking visits to Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas at some point during the year.

“I haven't scheduled any visits yet or taken any,” he said. “We haven’t set anything up yet but there's a couple schools I’ll probably visit that are waiting for me to come visit like Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas.”

“I'll probably make a list cut this year but make my decision sometime during my senior year.”

“The overall message these schools have been telling me is to keep working hard and keep doing what I do to get better at the stuff I can't do. They're all encouraging me to do more.”

While Fall is currently ranked No. 7 in the 247Sports national rankings, he still identifies parts of his game that he is working on to continue his development for the next level.

“I've been working on my shot for the most part,” said Fall. “I want to get better in the mid range, shooting the three ball, handling pace, form shooting and just improving my post moves a lot.”

“I want to become a better passer because I attract a lot of attention when I catch the ball,” he continued. “A lot of guys are open so I just have to be able to find them and give them the ball so we can work together and make something happen. I also want to be a way better defensive player, that's my main focus with my new team.”

While Fall isn't committing in the near future, he knows what he's looking for in a program.

“I'm looking for a place that is going to help my game grow to the next level and academically \ help me get what I want,” he said. “Also a place that appreciates my game, helps me get better and allows me to get playing time as a freshman.”

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One of the big movers in the class of 2023 rankings, Assane Diop’s recruitment has been steady as he focuses on his junior year at Denver Prep Academy. Diop is currently ranked No. 36 in the 247Sports national rankings and will be taking his time before making any decisions.

“I'm hearing a lot from USC, Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and a few others,” he said. “Right now I'm not thinking about visiting schools, I'm just listening to my dad and whatever he tells me I'm good with.”

“These schools have been telling me to keep working on my handle, so I can come in and be versatile and take advantage of mismatches. I want to play like a wing at the next level where I can play all positions.”

As one of the top 10 newcomers to the 2023 rankings, 247Sports Brandon Jenkins provided an evaluation of the upcoming big man.

“Assane Diop is still somewhat raw in his overall development but he has intriguing tools and traits that made him deserving of a respectable debut ranking spot. He plays with a great motor, has shown flashes of ball skills, and has a frame that will continue to fill out. The plays he makes for his size are more than noteworthy and it will be interesting to see how his game evolves throughout his junior season.”

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