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

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Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon 2024 four-star shooting guard Isaiah Elohim has committed to Arkansas.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior chose the Razorbacks over a final group of Kansas and Villanova.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Elohim is the No. 37 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle. He’s also the No. 9 shooting guard prospect and the No. 5 player in California. The On3 Industry Ranking is a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Scouting Report
“Isaiah Elohim is a strong-framed, long-armed wing. At this stage, even with his age, production is the name of his game. He is a straight-line driver to the basket. He is confident and decisive getting downhill toward the basket. He needs to continue developing his handle with some counters and loosen up his hips. Elohim is a good rebounder and not afraid to stick his nose into the mix. He can knock down a jump shot with three-point range off the catch. Would like to see him develop his court vision and passing. Elohim is great in the mid-range, has an array of finishes, able to get to spots and knock down shots at multiple angles. A noted shot maker and point producer. Even playing with guys two and three years older, Elohim produces.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw

About Isaiah Elohim
Isaiah Elohim is originally from Kingston, New York, but he’s played his high school career in the Los Angeles area. He played his eighth and ninth-grade years at Heritage Christian High School in Northridge, where he averaged 20.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals as a freshman. He also led the 15U division in scoring as a freshman after averaging 28.5 points at the Nike Peach Jam while playing for Paul George Elite. Elohim then transferred to nearby national powerhouse Sierra Canyon during his sophomore year to play with other top prospects like Bonny James. But Elohim had to sit out much of the season because of CIF transfer rules. Yet, the transfer didn’t impact Elohim’s status as one of the best prospects in the country. “I’m a combo guard,” Elohim told On3’s Joe Tipton. “I can really pass and score. I can play defense as well, so I’m just trying to be really well-rounded. I would say my strength is definitely my mid-range game, I can get there anytime I want. I can create for myself, as well as create for others. What I need to work on is extending my range and becoming more consistent on the 3-point line.” Elohim also participated in the 2021 USA Men’s U16 National Team training camp.

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Eric Musselman got his man as four-star Isaiah Elohim committed to Arkansas on Thursday. Elohim is the second commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle for the Razorbacks, joining four-star wing Jalen Shelley.

The two-man 2024 class comes on top of a two-man 2023 class that included the four-star duo of center Baye Fall and guard Layden Blocker.

Let’s discuss what getting Isaiah Elohim means for Arkansas.

Who is Isaiah Elohim?
Isaiah Elohim is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon. Elohim is the No. 35 player in the 2024 On3 150 and the No. 9 shooting guard in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking.

Along with Arkansas, Elohim took official visits to Kansas and Villanova.

What does he bring to Arkansas?
Isaiah Elohim fits a player archetype that Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman has had a lot of success with. Elohim is a 6-foot-5 guard who can create scoring advantages off the bounce. When Musselman has had his best college teams, dating back to his days at Nevada, he has had a lineup filled with players who have positional size and can create their own shot off the bounce.

Elohim battled through injuries this summer, but in his seven games on Nike’s EYBL Circuit, he averaged 9.8 points. Elohim is good in the mid-range and is at his best playing off two and three dribbles and getting into his pull-up jumper. He has a good base with a nice vertical lift and a soft and consistent release.

Elohim has played a lot of games on the big stage. He has even traveled across the world with his high school program. He is used to the spotlight. His biggest thing will be staying healthy; as they say, sometimes the best ability in sports is availability. As he continues to grow in his game continues to get stronger, he will need to become more consistent shooting from three. He is fine attacking the basket and finishing through contact, and that is a piece of his game that should continue to grow as he gets into a college weight and conditioning program.

How does Elohim fit in the lineup?
Arkansas typically has a lot of turnover year over year. A look at their current roster makeup: the Razorbacks have seven seniors on their roster. There should be plenty of opportunities available for newcomers.

Isaiah Elohim and Jalen Shelley should fit well, playing beside one another. Shelley has good length as a wing. He is more of a set shooter with good court vision and defensive versatility. Elohim is more wired to score.

There is opportunity and fit, but everything will depend on who Arkansas brings in from the transfer portal. Musselman has shown that he is not afraid of creating competition, and the best man gets on the floor. With seven seniors and the possibility of Trevon Brazile heading to the NBA Draft, the roster will need to be rebuilt.

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We must keep Muss at all costs

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Jase Richardson, the No. 34 overall recruit in the country, has completed three official visits and says he is in talks of setting a commitment day.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard out of Miami (Fla.) Columbus caught up with 247Sports to recap his officials and the next steps before coming to an ultimate decision.

So far, Richardson has been to Cincinnati, Michigan State and Alabama with the Bearcats receiving the latest visit.

With Cincinnati being the most recent, he shared his thoughts about his time on campus, their pitch and his favorite experience with the Bearcats.

"I really enjoyed the visit," he said. "I went to Cincinnati and just being around the coaching staff, the team, the fans and just the atmosphere I was glad to see. I have been trying to schedule this visit since my sophomore year so I was glad to see it."

What was his favorite part of the Cincinnati visit?

"Probably just getting to connect with the whole coaching staff and talking to them about what my role would be if I were to go there," he answered.

Wes Miller is continuing to get into heavyweight recruiting battles at Cincinnati and envisions Richardson coming in and making an immediate impact, if he were to get him.

"That I can really come in and make an impact for the team and be one of their main ball-handlers in the backcourt," Richardson said of Cincinnati's pitch.

After discussing his Cincinnati visit, Richardson reflected back on his time with Alabama and Michigan State.

Alabama: "What really stands out to me is the fan atmosphere and being with the team as well. The fan atmosphere going to a football game they are really invested in Alabama sports and just getting perspective from the team on game days and how rowdy the fans are and how energetic the crowd is during the games."

Michigan State: "It was really good to connect with Jesse McCulloch, one of their commits, being able to be on campus with him and get his perspective about why he went there and talking to him and connecting with the team as well. I love coach [Tom] Izzo. We connect on many great levels and him always telling me stories of coaching my dad and stuff my dad used to do on campus. His pitch is that if they were to get me that we could really do something special with the backcourt of Jeremy Fears and some of the other guys they are planning to get in the 2024 class."

As of now, Richardson doesn't have any other visits scheduled but has two other programs in consistent contact.

"Arkansas has been contacting me every day and Florida has been reaching out as well," he said. "I might potentially take a visit to Florida but I don't know yet."

The four-star guard shared his thoughts on the other two SEC programs in pursuit with 247Sports.

Arkansas: "I feel like Arkansas does a great job of developing freshman guards watching Nick Smith Jr. and Anthony Black play this year, be one-and-done and become first round picks was incredible to watch."

Florida: "Growing up that was my dream school so they always stuck out to me and just being able to be recruited by them is a blessing. As a kid, I used to carry around this basketball preseason college book and I always loved Billy Donovan as a coach and he was there at the time they were winning National Championships so me when I was four years old, Florida was my dream school."

While he thinks about taking one more visit to Florida, he is in discussions with his family regarding a commitment date.

"I am just sitting down and talking with my family and trying to figure out a date to eventually commit," he said as to his next steps.

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WALLS OPENS EYES IN THE A.M. WITH HIS UPSIDE

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Each year we see prospects who burst onto the national scene due to their upside alone. The majority possesses a combination of unteachable tools that give them a chance to be special when the light bulb clicks from a skill perspective.

Looking at Nigel Walls, his activity level is what seperates him from most prospects who are in the "greater later" conversation. Although he oozes with tremendous upside, he does not his potential hinder him from playing hard.

On Sunday morning, Walls affected the game on the offensive end with his jumper facing up from 15 feet to out past the 3 point line. At first, he knocked down long range shots off the catch. However, it transformed into him putting the ball on the floor to create shot opportunities from himself in the mid range areas.

Defensively, he contested every shot possible and seeked out a few balls off the rim that were out of his area.

At 6-foot-10 with an incredibly underdeveloped frame, Walls' body is long but not strong enough and that will be the next step in his development process. With that being said he is young for his class and is a favorite to reach his potential given his toughness, ability to change ends, and desire to make a positive impact.

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Top-25 sophomore JJ Andrews was one of the more intriguing talents in the gym. A powerfully-built wing out of Little Rock (Ark.) Andrews has a chiseled frame and terrific agility. He showed a lot of confidence in his defense and nailed a couple of three balls off the catch while on offense. Him owning a definite element of skill along with his physical tools gives him a great chance at being one of the more elite names in the class.

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Four-Star G JJ Andrews (2026) – JJ Andrews plays a physical style of basketball from the guard position. He is a good defender, both on and off the ball, a good rebounder, and he is a downhill driver with the ball in his hands.

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Four-Star PF Nigel Walls (2025) – There is an intriguing factor with Nigel Walls, simply off his size and the way he moves. He is still raw, but there is something definitely there. He slides his feet well, he contests shots at the rim, and he is an improving scorer. AN upside play, check back in a couple months and see where things are at.

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