Rather than the old Abbott and Costello comic baseball routine of 'Who's on First," it's "Who Are You?" when Arkansas coach Mike Anderson puts his basketball Razorbacks through the paces of their NCAA allotted limited summer practices.
"Obviously, we are probably going to need name tags," Anderson said during the recent annual summer Southeastern Conference basketball coaches and media teleconference. "We've got seven freshmen that are coming in and a junior college transfer Mason Jones coming in. So a lot of changeover."
It's a big challenge but a refreshing one, Anderson said, birthing a team so new with six seniors departed from last season's team plus underclassman guards C.J. Jones and Darious Hall opting to transfer.
"It's a team that's going to have a lot of newcomers," Anderson said. "That's exciting, especially for a coaching staff. We've got a lot of freshness."
Arkansas lost All-SEC guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon, as well as four year starter Anton Beard, also a guard. The team also lost senior forwards Trey Thompson, Arlando Cook and Dustin Thomas, who was dismissed from the team before the end of last season.
To cushion the blow, the new combers must blend quickly with obvious team star Daniel Gafford, the sophomore center from El Dorado. Also returning are junior forward Adrio Bailey, sophomore guard Gabe Osabuohien and Jalen Harris, a now eligible sophomore guard. Harris practiced with the Razorbacks last season as a redshirt transfer from New Mexico.
Guard Khalil Garland, of Little Rock Parkview, also returns but still hasn't had a full contact practice and won't unless medically cleared from a condition that forbade him from practicing last season. He maintains his freshman eligibility for 2018-19.
"Everybody reported for the first summer session, and we have had the opportunity to work with these guys in individual workouts for four hours a week," Anderson said. "So far, so good. It should be an exciting group to work with, and we will continue to work with them throughout the summer."
The newcomers include Mason Jones, a 6-5 forward transferring as a sophomore from Connors State Junior College in Oklahoma, and six freshmen. Four of the freshman are guards: Isaiah Joe, 6-2, Fort Smith Northside; Desi Sills, 6-2, Jonesboro; Keyshawn Embery, 6-2, Oklahoma City; and Jordan Phillips, 6-5, Arlington, Texas. The remaining freshmen play forward: Ethan Henderson, 6-8, Little Rock Parkview, and Reggie Chaney, 6-7, Frisco, Texas, via IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
"The thing with this young group here with this team I see a sense of bond-ship," Anderson said. "These guys are really trying to get on the same page. One thing that stands out they are competitive. They are competing against each other already. That's a good sign."
Anderson said Gafford is the "centerpiece" of the team and fills a verbal void.
"Not necessarily to my surprise, but Daniel Gafford is one of those guys that's talking,"Anderson said. "And a guy I think that will end up being one of those leaders is Adrio Bailey, a guy that's been here for a little while. I think Adrio is going to be a factor on this basketball team. He's had the opportunity to go to two (NCAA) tournaments and play in those tournaments. So he's going to have to use his experience to help these guys get through the tough times. Because obviously through the season there's going to be a lot of ups and downs."
Bailey has experienced those in two years.
"The thing I love about Adrio, he is showing them what it takes for the work ethic. You have to have to come in each and every day to try to get better," Anderson said. "To me he's doing it by example, and I think he's doing it vocally as well."
Osabuohien was Arkansas' least heralded recruit, but he fit in as a key role playing forward complementing Gafford up front and Barford and Macon in the backcourt down the SEC stretch.
"Gabe Osabuohien stepped up late in the season," Anderson said.
Sports on 07/06/2018