LITTLE ROCK — The Real Deal in the Rock will be played this weekend in central Arkansas, and as usual it will feature numerous prospects who are being recruited by the Arkansas Razorbacks’ men’s basketball staff.
Based out of P.A.R.K. complex at 6915 Geyer Springs Rd. in Little Rock, the event will feature approximately 420 teams from across the nation, and for the first time in four years that NCAA rules will allow college coaches will be able to attend the event.
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff will likelypay close attention to the Birmingham Storm, which features several prospects. They include power forward Ade Aruna, 6-8, 220 pounds, and center John Paul, 6-11, 220, from the 2013 class, as well as Anthony Hudson, a 6-6, 220-pound swingman the Razorbacks are interested in for the 2014 class.
The Storm’s first game is scheduled for 8:35 tonight at Little Rock Hall High School.
The Hogs signed former Storm forward JaCorey Williams, 6-8, 190, of Birmingham (Ala.) Central Park for the 2012 class.
Storm Coach Chris Monroe said the Razorbacks are very interested in Aruna, who moved to the United States from Nigeria three years ago.
“They [Arkansas] like him a lot,” Monroe said. “They like his motor because he plays really, really hard. He’s built like a defensive tackle.”
Monroe said Aruna reminds him of power forward Jarnell Stokes, a former Razorbacks recruit who eventually signed with Tennessee.
“He looks exactly like Jarnell Stokes, except this kid is thicker, more muscular,” Monroe said. “I’m not comparing him to Jarnell Stokes in caliber of talent, because Jarnell Stokes is in a league by himself. But as far as his body build, it’s the same with maybe more muscle mass than fat. “
Aruna’s raw athletic ability was enough to earn him a football scholarship offer from Mississippi State, even though he has never participated in the sport.
“He went to Mississippi State’s elite football camp and they lined him up at defensive end, he breaks a kid’s jaw on the first snap,” Monroe said. “Mississippi State offers him before the weekend is over. The kid has never played a day of football in his life.”
Monroe said Aruna is unknown on the national level, but Monroe believes he is a major Division-I prospect.
“He’s never been on the AAU circuit,” Monroe said. “He’s a newbie.”
Aruna played in his first spring basketball event with college coaches on hand last weekend in Augusta, Ga., and quickly drew interest and at least three scholarship offers, including ones from Jacksonville and Samford.
“I guess there were about 30 schools there, and I’ve received five calls in the first two days of this week about him,” Monroe said. “Some of them are offers and some are saying they’re really going to recruit this kid.”
Monroe said Aruna’s game is lacking in some areas, but his physical style of play and effort are his best assets.
“He’s not real skilled as far as shooting the basketball,” Monroe said. “But rebounding and just tearing the rim off dunking, that’s his forte.”
Danny Pritchard, the director of the Birmingham Storm, said he believes Hudson will be one of the nation’s elite recruits in the 2014 class.
“He’s real solid on his jump shot,” Pritchard said. “He’s playing above the rim. He finishes around the basket real strong and he can handle the ball. “
Other Arkansas recruiting targets and their playing times include:
Keith Frazier: A 6-5, 185-pound shooting guard from Dallas plays for DJH5, whichwill play at 8 a.m. Saturday at P.A.R.K. He is a member of the 2013 class.
Malik Price-Martin: A 6-8, 190-pound power forward from Miami plays for Team Breakdown, which plays at 8:35 tonight at P.A.R.K. He is a member of the 2013 class.
Trey Thompson: A 6-8, 220-pound power forward from Forrest City, Thompson is a member of the Arkansas Hawks, who play at 7:30 tonight at P.A.R.K. He is a member of the 2014 class.
KeVaughn Allen: A 6-3, 170-pound shooting guard from North Little Rock plays for Arkansas Soldierz, who play at 12:40 p.m. Saturday at P.A.R.K. He is a member of the 2015 class.
Robert Hubbs: A 6-6, 190-pound shooting guard from Newbern (Tenn.) Dyer County plays for M33M Elite, which plays at 6:25 tonight at P.A.R.K. He is a member of the 2013 class.
Dederick Lee: A 6-2, 160-pound point guard from Clarksville plays for the Nolan Richardson Mustangs, who play at 7:30 tonight at Little Rock Parkview. A member of the 2013 class, Lee already has given the Razorbacks an oral commitment.
More information on the tournament is available at www.realdealintherock.com
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/27/2012