In what could be the earliest oral commitment for any sport at the University of Arkansas, Pulaski Academy freshman guard / forward Aaron Ross, 15, made a pledge to Coach John Pelphrey after an unofficial visit over the weekend. Ross, 6-7, 205, is rated by ESPN. com as the No. 3 small forward in the nation for the 2011 class. “If he really applies himself over the next three years and demonstrates he has the heart and the passion to be one of the best, he has the potential be one of the great ones to come out of the state, no question,” Pulaski Academy Coach Chuck Winkelman said. Winkelman said Ross’ versatility “is his greatest strength at such a young age.” This season, Ross averaged 6. 7 points and 4. 6 rebounds in 13 games for Pulaski Academy’s high school team, which finished 19-8 overall and lost in the first round of the Class 5 A state tournament. Winkelman said Ross’ averages could’ve been higher but he was trying to integrate Ross into a group of talented upperclassmen.

“He and I were trying to feel each other out in terms of how were we going to move this very talented ninth-grader into this group of guys that was already going to be a really good basketball team,” Winkelman said.