THE RECRUITING GUY

Memphis guard Johnson arranging visit to UA

— Memphis shooting guard Jajuan Johnson is planning visits to numerous college campuses this summer - Ole Miss, Memphis, Louisville and Cincinnati - with Arkansas also being on the list.

“We’re trying to set that up now,” Johnson said of the Hogs. “We’re trying to do that before Peach Jam [July 18-21].”

Johnson, 6-5, 180 pounds, of Southwind High School, made a name for himself in front of college coaches with outstanding play at session 3 of the Nike Elite Youth League at Hampton, Va., on April 27-29.

He averaged 14.8 points while shooting 53 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the three-point line during the four sessions of the league.

“I can shoot midrange, the three ball, I can do it all,” said Johnson, who reports 14 scholarship offers.

Johnson said he’s been talking to Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson and assistant coach T.J. Cleveland.

“He said I can play his style of play and I’m a long and athletic kid.” Johnson said of Anderson. “They fit my style of play. They get up and down and they press a lot. I like their style of play.”

Johnson said he had planned to make his college decision before the start of his senior season.

“But I didn’t know I was going to get all of the attention,” he said. “It’s crazy because I had two good weekends and I got a lot of calls and I wasn’t expecting all that.”

ENJOYING THE GYM

Missouri power forward Tory Miller was able see how his skills matched up with Arkansas’ players during a multiple-day visit to Fayetteville on June 10-13.

Miller, 6-8,237 pounds, of Lee’s Summit North High School, reports scholarship offers from Arkansas, Colorado State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Creighton. He said his time in the gym playing 5-on-5 pickup basketball was the highlight of his visit.

“That was really fun getting the chance to play against them and see the pace of the game,” he said.

Miller said he held his own against the current Hogs.

“There were times when you could tell they were older and more mature with the game,” said Miller, who reports losing 10 pounds after going on a workout and diet regimen. “I felt like I did well.”

Miller said he and Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson had a chance to have a 1-on-1 meeting.

“It went well,” said Miller, whose uncle is Clint McDaniel, a member of Arkansas’ 1994 national championship team. “He shared a few things with me having to do with the future and what’s going to happen and stuff like that, how everything is looking with him and how everything is looking with my class and other recruits and how he feels about me moving forward.”

PORTIS NO. 29

National recruiting analyst Van Coleman of Hot100hoops.com rates Little Rock Hall forward Bobby Portis, an Arkansas commitment, the No. 29 prospect in the nation.

Portis played well at the recent National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp held on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Va.

“Bobby had a solid camp,” Coleman said, noting Portis’ range behind the three-point line and the ability to attack the basket. “He’s an excellent defender with quick ups to block shots and made our unofficial scout staff ’s top 25.”

NO CALL WAITING

College basketball coaches received the green light Friday to make unlimited phone calls and send unlimited text messages to prospects who have completed their sophomore seasons. The move by the NCAA is an effort to allow coaches and prospects a better opportunity to get to know one another and slow down the high number of transfers.

Beginning Aug. 1, prospects can start making official visits after Jan. 1 of their junior years.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 20 on 06/19/2012