Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey and his staff signed one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, according to Bob Gibbons of ESPN. com.

Gibbons rates the Razorbacks’ class No. 6 in the country and attributes the ranking to the last-minute signings of forward Daniel Payne of Coffeyville (Kan. ) Junior College and combo-guard Rotnei Clarke of Claremore (Okla. ) Verdigris.

Payne, 6-7, 210 pounds, and Clarke, 6-1, 175, signed with the Hogs on Nov. 21, the last day of the early signing period.

“This late surge in recruiting just moved them right up to the top. In order, it was UCLA, Arizona, Georgetown, Florida, Ohio State and Arkansas,” Gibbons said. “Those are my top six.”

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John Pelphrey and his staff did a marvelous job closing virtually on the last day to get the nation’s No. 1 junior college prospect, Daniel Payne. If you make him the equivalent of a high school player he would be rated in the top five nationally with his ability. Being the best junior college player he’s older. He’ll come in as a junior and he’ll be ready to make an immediate impact in the program when he arrives.

“They also got the young man that I consider the best pure shooter in the high school ranks, Rotnei Clarke,” said Gibbons, who has been the publisher of All Star Sports Reports, a basketball publication, since 1978. “Most people believed he was going to play for one of the Sutton brothers, either Sean at Oklahoma State or Scott at Oral Roberts. I think Coach Pelphrey and his staff really sold him on opportunities to win and be a part of a great class.”

The late hiring of Pelphrey and his staff in April and their ability to play catch-up in recruiting was impressive.

“They didn’t have any carryover to build on,” Gibbons said. “They didn’t have contacts at South Alabama [with ] the same caliber of kids that they’re going to recruit at Arkansas, obviously. They’re going to lose six seniors and they got six recruits to replace them. It doesn’t get any better than that in fulfilling your needs.”

Arkansas had a good nucleus before the additions of Payne and Clarke with point guard Courtney Fortson, 5-11, 175, of The Patterson School in North Carolina; New Orleans forward Brandon Moore, 6-9, 215, and the Mendenhall (Miss. ) Genesis One duo of combo-guard Terrance Joyner, 6-2, 170 and 6-10, 215-pound forward Andre Clark.

“They already had four outstanding recruits, including two top-notch guards,” Gibbons said. “Courtney Fortson, I think he’s the best prep school point guard in the country. Joyner, I think will be more a scoring guard at Arkansas. He certainly can play. Andre Clark, I think he has loads of potential.”

Gibbons said Moore could be the surprise of the class.

“He’s the sleeper of the group,” Gibbons said. “ I look for him to have really a superlative senior year and really go up in the national rankings. You can’t teach size, the old cliche.

“ He’s got that and a big heart and a lot of ability. I think Coach Pelphrey will get the maximum out of him. “

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansason line. com