Arkansas basketball signee Jason Henry was cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse Thursday and will be able to participate this season.

Henry, 6-7, 195 pounds, can play small forward or shooting guard. He signed with the Hogs in April out of Cincinnati Harmony Community preparatory school and is being counted on to have an immediate impact on a young team.

“When I heard the news, my heart skipped two beats,” Henry said. “I stopped breathing for two seconds. When I talk to my momma, I’m going to cry I’m so happy. I’ll be calling all of my friends and family that stood behind me.”

Excellent in the open court, Henry’s athleticism and ability to penetrate and shoot the ball should allow him to flourish in Coach John Pelphrey’s up-tempo style.

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“I’m ready for whatever they want me to do,” he said. “I’m so ready to play.”

Henry played at West Memphis and averaged 28 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and was rated as one of the top 100 high school prospects in the nation in 2007. He signed with Cincinnati but was ineligible, and he enrolled at Cincinnati Harmony Community.

Henry averaged approximately 22 points, 6. 5 rebounds and 2 steals last season.