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Posted on 10/14/21 at 8:09 pm to RazorHawg
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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.
Posted on 10/15/21 at 3:37 pm to RazorHawg
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Eric Musselman and the Arkansas men's basketball staff landed another massive commitment on Thursday when 2022 five-star forward Jordan Walsh went public with his college decision.
Walsh joins a star-studded commitment list that already included five-star combo guard Nick Smith of North Little Rock (Ark.), four-star combo guard Derrian Ford of Magnolia (Ark.), four-star small forward Barry Dunning of Mobile (Ala.) McGill Toolen, and four-star small forward Joseph Pinion of Morrilton (Ark.). With five verbal commitments on board, Walsh's pledge takes Arkansas' class to No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC. Arkansas' highest finish was No. 4 in the nation in the Class of 2004.
While Arkansas has enjoyed its share of success in basketball in recent years, including an Elite Eight run last season, it may come as a surprise to some that Walsh is only the program's sixth five-star addition since the online rankings era began in the early 2000s. With that in mind, we decided to list Arkansas' ten highest-rated hoops commitments in the modern era.
NOTE: Smith and Walsh haven't yet signed with Arkansas.
Eric Musselman and the Arkansas men's basketball staff landed another massive commitment on Thursday when 2022 five-star forward Jordan Walsh went public with his college decision.
Walsh joins a star-studded commitment list that already included five-star combo guard Nick Smith of North Little Rock (Ark.), four-star combo guard Derrian Ford of Magnolia (Ark.), four-star small forward Barry Dunning of Mobile (Ala.) McGill Toolen, and four-star small forward Joseph Pinion of Morrilton (Ark.). With five verbal commitments on board, Walsh's pledge takes Arkansas' class to No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC. Arkansas' highest finish was No. 4 in the nation in the Class of 2004.
While Arkansas has enjoyed its share of success in basketball in recent years, including an Elite Eight run last season, it may come as a surprise to some that Walsh is only the program's sixth five-star addition since the online rankings era began in the early 2000s. With that in mind, we decided to list Arkansas' ten highest-rated hoops commitments in the modern era.
NOTE: Smith and Walsh haven't yet signed with Arkansas.
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10. MOSES MOODY | 4-STAR (.9833) | CLASS OF 2020
Moses Moody was part of a stellar 2020 signing class for Musselman and the Razorbacks. The Arkansas native played his high school ball at Montverde Academy but decided to return home for college, choosing the Hogs over Michigan, Kansas, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oregon and many others. The 6-6, 205-pound wing prospect was considered the No. 46 player in the nation as a senior. In his only season in Fayetteville, Moody averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and helped Arkansas reach the Elite Eight. He was taken by the Golden State Warriors with the 14th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft.
9. STEVEN HILL | 4-STAR (.9843) | CLASS OF 2004
Steven Hill was a 7-foot center in Arkansas' highest-rated class of all time. Rated as the No. 35 overall prospect in the nation and No. 1 in his home state of Missouri, Hill chose the nearby Razorbacks over the Mizzou Tigers. The Branson product enjoyed a long, successful career in Fayetteville, finishing second on the program's all-time blocks list with 318 through 132 games, per HogStats.com. Hill was not drafted but had a cup of coffee with the Portland Trailblazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2008-09 season. From there, he spent three seasons with the Tulsa 66ers (now the Oklahoma City Blue).
8. DANIEL GAFFORD | 4-STAR (.9860) | CLASS OF 2017
Former Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson landed Daniel Gafford out of El Dorado (Ark.) in the Class of 2017. The 6-9 power forward turned down offers from Florida, Kansas, Virginia and several others to play for the home state Hogs. Gafford was the No. 39 overall prospect in the country and the top-rated player in the state of Arkansas. He became one of the SEC's best players in his two seasons on The Hill and was named First-Team All-SEC as a sophomore. Gafford was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 38th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. He currently plays for the Washington Wizards.
7. RONNIE BREWER | 4-STAR (.9869) | CLASS OF 2003
Ronnie Brewer, son of former Arkansas great Ron Brewer, was a homegrown product out of Fayetteville in the 2003 cycle. He held offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and others but decided to stay at home to play for the Hogs. Brewer, 6-6, 190 as a prospect, had a stellar career for the Razorbacks, averaging 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He became a first-round selection when the Utah Jazz selected him with the 14th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. Brewer went on to play for six different NBA teams between 2006-14. He now serves as Arkansas' recruiting coordinator.
6. JORDAN WALSH | 5-STAR (.9904)
Eric Musselman is now responsible for three of Arkansas' 10 highest-rated commitments in the online rankings era after landing Jordan Walsh of Branson (Mo.) Link Academy on Thursday. Walsh, a 6-7 forward, chose the Razorbacks over Texas, Kansas, Oregon, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, LSU, Auburn and many others. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Walsh is the No. 27 overall prospect and the No. 7 small forward in the nation. He is part of a five-man class that currently ranks No. 2 in the nation for the 2022 cycle.
5. BJ YOUNG | 5-STAR (.9919) | CLASS OF 2011
B.J. Young was a five-star recruit at McCluer North in Florissant (Mo.) in the Class of 2011. The 247Sports Composite rankings tabbed him as the No. 21 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 2 player in Missouri behind only Bradley Beal, one of the NBA's top current players. Young spent two seasons on the Hill, averaging 15.3 points as a freshman and 15.2 as a sophomore before deciding to enter the 2013 NBA Draft. Young went unselected and has bounced around different teams since leaving college. He currently plays for Libertadores de Querétaro.
4. OLU FAMUTIMI | 5-STAR (.9932) | CLASS OF 2003
Olu Famutimi was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2003. The Toronto native transferred to Flint Northwestern in Flint (Mich.) and turned down offers from Memphis and Missouri in choosing the Razorbacks. Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, USC and many others also recruited the 6-5 prospect. Famutimi never had the kind of college career he'd hoped for, lasting two seasons in Fayetteville and averaging just 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 57 career games. Famutimi surprisingly entered the 2005 NBA Draft but was not selected. He has played for 14 different teams in several different countries.
3. BOBBY PORTIS | 5-STAR (.9934) | CLASS OF 2013
If this was a ranking of most popular Razorback basketball signees, Bobby Portis might take the top spot. But being a five-star and the No. 17 player in the nation for the Class of 2013 wasn't too shabby, either. Portis never showed any interest in playing for anyone except the Hogs, but held offers from Baylor, Florida, Kansas, Memphis, Nebraska and others. He spent two seasons in Fayetteville and was named SEC Player of the Year for his work as a sophomore, which saw the Little Rock native average 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Portis was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 22nd overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. He became a world champion and an NBA fan favorite last season during the Milwaukee Bucks' title run.
2. NICK SMITH | 5-STAR (.9965) | CLASS OF 2022
Nick Smith of Sylvan Hills is Arkansas' biggest pick-up in several years. The 6-4 combo guard chose the Razorbacks over three other finalists in Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He also held offers from Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Butler, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech and many others. The 247Sports Composite rankings have Smith as a five-star prospect and the No. 9 overall player for the Class of 2022. 247Sports considers Smith the No. 8 overall prospect for his class.
1. AL JEFFERSON | 5-STAR (.9990) | CLASS OF 2004
Al Jefferson of Prentiss (Miss.) was a McDonald's All-American, a Parade All-American, and the nation's No. 4 overall recruit in the Class of 2004. He signed with the Razorbacks in the Class of 2004, which is a big reason why that cycle is Arkansas' highest-rated to date, but chose to skip college and go straight to the NBA Draft. He was taken by the Boston Celtics with the 15th overall pick of the first round of the 2004 draft. Jefferson played for five different NBA teams from 2004-18 and was named to the All-NBA Third-Team in 2014. He last played for the Indiana Pacers in 2018.
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