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

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Jordan Walsh commits to Arkansas.

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Arkansas’ great 2022 recruiting class just got even better, as it picked up a commitment from top-35 prospect Jordan Walsh on Thursday.

The Texas native exploded in the recruiting rankings this summer, jumping 42 spots to No. 31 in the latest Rivals150. Already a five-star prospect on other sites, he still has the potential to pick up a fifth star on Rivals.

Regardless of rank, though, Walsh is a big-time player and major addition to the Razorbacks’ program.

Over the last month, the 6-foot-7 wing encouraged Nick Smith Jr. during the latter part of his recruitment and, ultimately, his commitment to Arkansas. The two top prospects are close friends and stayed in constant contact throughout the recruiting process. After all that, they will end up in Fayetteville together.

Walsh received offers from top schools across the country, but Arkansas was there from the start. Other schools that offered him include Kansas, Oregon, Texas, Auburn, USC, Oklahoma, LSU, California, Arizona State and Memphis. In total, he amassed 20 scholarship offers, nearly all of which were from high-major programs.

Similar to Smith, the versatile forward put on a strong showing at Peach Jam with dozens of coaches in attendance. Over the final week of the event against other top competition, he averaged 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2 steals.

Walsh will play his senior year at Link Year Prep in Branson, Mo., after beginning his career at Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy in Dallas. He was a second-team all-area selection after averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 blocks while helping Faith Family reach the Class 4A semifinals.

As a freshman, Walsh and the Eagles won the state championship when he threw down a dunk just before the buzzer to give his team a 53-51 win.

The fifth member of the Razorbacks’ 2022 class, Walsh likely solidifies a top-five class for the program. At the very least, Arkansas should remain firmly in the top-10, giving it a second top-10 class in the span of three years.

There is potential for Arkansas to add another commitment to the class, but that remains to be seen.

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Jordan Walsh, the highest-ranked available player in the 2022 class, announced his commitment to Arkansas on Thursday.

Walsh's pledge likely gives men's basketball coach Eric Musselman and the Razorbacks a top-three recruiting class, alongside Duke and Kentucky.

"The difference was the coaching staff and especially Coach Musselman," Walsh told ESPN. "It's a staff that has NBA experience. The fans are wild and it's the only game in town. The program competes for championships. I want to win a national championship when I am there."

Walsh chose Arkansas over Texas, although he also visited Memphis, Arizona State and Kansas.

"Coach Musselman thinks I should only be there for a year," he said. "They have a plan for me from day one until the end of the season and that was important to me. They had a huge plan on a whiteboard that was the size of a wall. To know they believe in me that much meant a lot. Their plan for me is to come in and play impactful minutes. To play one through four and utilize my versatility. The NIL (name, image and likeness) was a factor, and it's nice to know it is there, but my goal is to be in the NBA."

A 6-foot-7 small forward from Texas who plays at Link Year Prep (Missouri), Walsh is ranked No. 7 overall in the ESPN 100 for the 2022 class -- and is the No. 2 player at his position. He had a strong summer for the Drive Nation program on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 points and 3.3 assists, shooting better than 50% inside the arc. Walsh tallied three double-doubles, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist effort against fellow top-50 prospect Cameron Whitmore and Team Melo.

Walsh, who has a 41-inch vertical and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, is one of the best two-way players in the high school game. He impacts the game with his size and explosive vertical jump, both of which allow him to rebound effectively and finish plays. He is a strong defender and driver who competes.

Walsh scores with skill and opportunity, and he is at his best in transition. His jumper from deep has improved, as has a tough pull-up jumper inside the arc. He crashes the offensive glass for second-chance points and moves well without the ball.

Walsh is the fifth ESPN 100 commitment for Musselman in the 2022 class, following top-10 prospect Nick Smith and ESPN 100 four-stars Derrian Ford, Barry Dunning and Joseph Pinion. Smith (No. 6) and Walsh are the highest-ranked recruits Arkansas has landed since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007.

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One of the nation's hottest programs continued down its impressive path on Thursday evening, when Eric Musslemen and Arkansas landed the commitment of four-star forward Jordan Walsh. Below, Rivals.com examines what the Razorbacks are getting in their newest pledge as well as what it means for the bigger picture.

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WHAT ARKANSAS IS GETTING

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Walsh has shined at both forward spots in the past, but will likely be a wing at the college level. That said, his length and strength allow him to make an impact on the boards and provide some semblance of defensive versatility. The 6-foot-7 Walsh is capable of knocking down an open jumper from deep, but his offensive game is more about getting to the bucket, drawing contact and finishing through the trees.

He’s not a polished prospect as things stand, but Walsh has plenty of athleticism to lean on until he becomes a more consistent shooter and more well-rounded player. He has the feel of a player that could really come into his own in his second or third year in Fayetteville once he takes on some coaching and gets comfortable with his role.

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WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE BIG PICTURE

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Success tends to compound in college athletics, and the momentum Eric Musslemen has built in Fayetteville over the last couple of seasons is palpable. Last year’s run to the Elite 8 helped lead to the program landing five-star guard Nick Smith, and today’s news seems to be yet another domino in the rise of the Razorbacks as a sustainable power.

The idea of the Hogs landing a five-star and following it up by beating out schools like Texas, Kansas and others to land another highly ranked national prospect a few weeks later would have seemed like a fever dream not long ago. Alas, here we are. Mussleman may have built his recruiting reputation via the transfer market and other less conventional ways to assemble a winning team, but it seems as though he won’t be forced to rely on such things going forward. There are few fan bases in America that have better reasons to be optimistic about the future than that of Arkansas

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IN HIS WORDS:

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“I like how the whole staff is in sync with each other. Coach (Eric) Musselman has coached in the NBA so I have no doubt he knows what he’s doing.” -- Walsh to Rivals.co’s Jamie Shaw earlier this year

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The rich continue to get richer as Arkansas has added another recruit in the Class of 2022. This evening, composite five-star forward Jordan Walsh announced his commitment to the Razorbacks.

"They (were) in the mix because of their coaching staff, environment, and their fanbase," said Walsh in a previous interview earlier this month. "Everyone knows their fanbase is crazy. The coaching staff is well-experienced and Eric Musselman has a history of putting his players in the league. It is also a place where I can focus too."

A 6-foot-7 forward out of Cedar Hill (Texas) Walsh is a very long and active dual forward prospect who projects as a wing long-term but right now his offensive game is more that of a hybrid four. He has the upside to be a versatile asset at the high major level. He has good bounce and fluid strides to add to his lengthy frame.

Walsh's calling card may be on the defensive end where he is disruptive guarding the ball and contesting shots. He has a nose for the ball and looks to control the glass when motivated and can lead the break after securing a defensive rebound but lacks the natural acumen to make the right decisions consistently in offensive structure.

He has a good-looking jumper but it is not totally reliable. Improving his decision-making and becoming more of a threat when open from behind the arc are his main areas of focus.

Walsh chose Arkansas over Kansas, Memphis, and Texas. The fifth commitment in the Razorbacks 2023 recruiting class, he will join four-star prospects Derrian Ford, Barry Dunning, Joseph Pinion, and five-star guard Nick Smith.

Walsh is ranked the No. 27 overall prospect in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.

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Jordan Walsh, a 6-foot-7 small forward out of Dallas (Texas) Link Year Prep has committed to Arkansas basketball for the class of 2022, sources tell On3.

Walsh is the Razorbacks’ fifth commitment of the class. He joins Nick Smith, Derrian Ford, Barry Dunning, and Joseph Pinion.

Arkansas now has the No. 2 ranked recruiting class for 2022. The Razorbacks are still targeting Anthony Black, one of the best combo guards in the country.

Walsh chose the Arkansas Razorbacks over Texas, Arizona State, Kansas, TCU, Oklahoma, Memphis, amongst others.

Walsh is the No. 22 overall prospect in the On3 100, and the No. 5 small forward.

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Scouting Report on Jordan Walsh
On3’s Senior National Recruiting Analyst Gerry Hamilton had this to say about Walsh:

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“Walsh is one of the top wing prospects in the 2022 class. He’s 6-7, with long arms… 83-inch wingspan. Well over 10-inch hands. Very bouncy. Great second bounce. Really an athletic player and plays hard. Will play both ends of the court. He’s working to develop his outside shot, and his perimeter game to be more consistent. When he does that, his game will go to another level. He’s a definite NBA prospect. He’s a guy who works hard on his game and his craft and keeps getting better. There has not been any leveling out with Jordan Walsh over the years. He plays well in transition and finishes well above the rim. Can play through some contact. He doesn’t have a really muscular-looking frame but he plays physical brand basketball. He’s a guy that’s developing off the dribble, and handling the basketball. Could be a hybrid forward early in his career at times. He’s a guy with a really bright future and as his game expands on the perimeter, that will take him to another level.”

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The UIL state executive committee ruled Duncanville five-star senior guard Anthony Black ineligible from varsity competition for the upcoming season, deciding that he transferred from Coppell to defending Class 6A boys basketball state champion Duncanville for athletic purposes and was influenced by a relationship between his mother and Duncanville coach David Peavy.

Anthony Black’s options are to play for Duncanville’s junior varsity team, sit out the high school season and just play AAU basketball or try to transfer to another school.

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