Arkansas’ basketball team will be looking at a youth movement next year with the departure of six seniors.

Among the newcomers expected to contribute next season will be forward Brandon Moore, who signed during the early signing period in November.

Moore, 6-9, 215 pounds, of New Orleans Holy Cross averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks a game this season. He averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 steals a game in his junior year.

Holy Cross’ season ended Friday with a 62-49 loss to Opelousas in the first round of the playoffs. Moore finished the game with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks.

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Moore played at Episcopal Collegiate in Little Rock during his sophomore season while living in Little Rock after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

He cited several improvements in his game from his junior to senior year, including his maturity level.

“I’ve been through a lot of stuff with Katrina, and I’ve been working on my left hand and my ball handling has increased a whole lot better,” said Moore, who blocked a team-high 183 shots during the season. “My shot-blocking has always been good, but my jumping ability has increased and my jump shot got better.”

Moore was able to showcase his talents in November when Holy Cross took on Harvey (La. ) Cox. The game matched up Moore and his good friend Greg Monroe, a Georgetown signee who is considered the best center in the nation.

Cox won 52-41, but Moore more than held his own with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. Monroe had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Moore said he’s gotten to know Arkansas signees Andre Clark, Rotnei Clarke and Courtney Fortson through summer basketball.

Moore competed against Fortson last summer during an AAU tournament in Los Angeles when Moore’s team, the Texas Blue Chips, took on Fortson and Southeast Elite. Moore’s tripledouble helped his team to a onepoint victory.

Moore said Fortson creates problems for opposing guards and is fearless going to the basket.

“He’s explosive, and he’s aggressive in going to the goal,” Moore said. “He’s a mismatch problem against smaller guards. He takes it to the post a lot. That’s what he did against us. He kept coming at me. I had like nine blocks, but that’s the good thing about him. He’s aggressive and he’s not scared of anybody.” Moore also was impressed with Andre Clark and Rotnei Clarke. “Andre is a great athlete, a shot blocker. He has a nice, soft touch with the ball and he can crash the boards,” Moore said. “Rotnei is a pure shooter. I met Rotnei when I was like 13 years old and he was lighting it up from everywhere.” CLARKE NEEDS 34 FOR RECORD Combination guard Rotnei Clarke continued his quest last week to become Oklahoma’s high school career scoring leader.

Clarke, 6-1, 175, of Verdigris High School had 56 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists Thursday night in a 105-50 victory against Pawhuska in the Class 3 A regional tournament. Clarke went 22 of 37 from the field, 7 of 16 from beyond the three-point line and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also had three steals. He followed that up with 49 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals Saturday night in a 90-63 victory over Eufaula. He shot 40 percent from behind the threepoint line, 52 percent from the field and was 14 of 17 from the free-throw line.

Clarke goes into Friday night’s 3 A final against Adair needing 34 points to break the nearly 20-year-old scoring record of Ty Harman of Maud. Harman finished his career with 3, 639 points. RAZORBACKS EYE FLEMINGS

Arkansas is looking at forward Roderick Flemings, 6-7, 210, of Weatherford College in Texas.

Coach Mark Osina said the Razorbacks called for a copy of Flemings’ transcript.

“There’s been a bunch of schools on him, Kentucky and several other schools,” Osina said.

Flemings is averaging 20. 4 points, 11. 8 rebounds and 3. 3 assists per game.

“He’s our best defensive player. He’s our best offensive player, our best passer. He leads the team in charges,” Osina said. “He just knows how to play. He’s very quick. If they guard him, he can go around them. If they back off, he can shoot it.” SOUTH REGIONAL COMBINE The South Regional Football Combine will be held at noon Saturday at the indoor soccer fields at All Star Sports Arena in Springdale. “Over 200 athletes from four states will be tested and trained in seven standard combine events”, said Brad Corbitt, the regional director of National Scouting Report and Southern-Combine. com. Two skill camps will be held prior to the combine at 8 a. m. Jason Allen, a former Razorbacks quarterback, will conduct the Elite Quarterback Skills Camp, and former University of Arkansas linemen Raymond House and Steve Conley will hold a lineman skills camp.

E-mail this reporter at: rdavenport@arkansasonline. com