FAYETTEVILLE — John Pelphrey has started making himself at home in Arkansas.

Pelphrey, hired last month as the Arkansas basketball coach, has landed commitments from Forrest City point guard Marcus Britt and Springdale Har-Ber power forward Michael Sanchez, both players confirmed Monday. Both will sign letters of intent today, becoming Pelphrey’s f irst Razorbacks signees.

Both are on track to qualify academically.

Nate Rakestraw, an outside shooter also from Har-Ber, was the only other member of the recruiting class until Monday. He signed in November.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sanchez and Britt already have something in common, having been soundly on Arkansas’ recruiting radar under the previous coach, Stan Heath, and slipping before finally winding up as teammates for the coming season.

Sanchez, 6-8, 235, committed to Pelphrey on Sunday evening.

Wake Forest and Kentucky were among the schools seeking Sanchez, who averaged 16 points and 15 rebounds as a senior. He had planned to attend Findlay Prep School in Las Vegas to reclassify for 2008 before his recent play attracted more college attention.

“I thought I was going to Findlay Prep a month ago,” Sanchez said Monday night. “I just looked at all the options and knew this was the best decision. I felt like there is no place like home.”

Heath had recruited Britt last year but backed off late and signed Rakestraw. Britt signed with Louisiana Tech in November.

Britt’s opportunities opened up again when Heath and Louisiana Tech Coach Keith Richard were fired after the season. Pelphrey showed interest, and so did South Florida, where Heath is now the coach. But Britt has wanted to play for the Razorbacks for quite a while and committed Monday.

Louisiana Tech has granted Britt’s release, and he was awaiting the arrival of an Arkansas letter of intent to sign.

“It’s a good thing I got my release because more doors opened for me,” Britt said.

Wednesday is the last day of the spring signing period for binding letters of intent. An athlete can still sign a non-binding letter after 11: 59 p. m. Wednesday, meaning he could withdraw his commitment without permission or penalty.

Heath offered Sanchez a scholarship as a sophomore. Nagging knee injuries limited Sanchez’s effectiveness as a junior and caused college coaches to back away. Sanchez was fully healed for his senior season and regained his old form, attracting more suitors this spring.

“It’s been crazy for Michael the last month and a half,” Har-Ber Coach Eric Burnett said. “He’s had to deal with a lot of coaches calling.”

Pelphrey got his first glimpse of Sanchez last month at an AAU tournament in Pittsburgh. That was followed by one-on-one conversations the last three weeks.

Sanchez has the size needed to play inside in the SEC and a midrange jump shot, but Burnett said Sanchez’s biggest asset is toughness.

“He’s relentless,” Burnett said. “He doesn’t back down. If you knock him down, he’ll keep coming at you and keep coming at you. He’s a beast.”

Sanchez joins a team that is loaded with frontcourt experience.

“I’m going to play,” Sanchez said. “It will be hard to come in and play, but the opportunity is there and I look forward to coming in and competing this summer.”

In Britt, Arkansas filled a position that coaches have deemed a critical need as Pelphrey institutes an uptempo, high-pressure system. Starting point guard Gary Ervin will be a senior next season and was inconsistent last season.

Britt, who averaged 18. 5 points as a senior, usually started at small forward in high school.

“But in the fourth quarter, we moved him to the point position,” Forrest City Coach Dwight Lofton said. “On the college level, he can play [point or shooting guard ] very comfortably. I think Pelphrey wants to look at him at the point. I think it will be his position with the Razorbacks.

“ He has good vision and a good assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s not flashy. He’s just a winner.”