Junior college forward Malik Dime's resume on and off the basketball court isn't the norm for a major college prospect.
Dime, 6-10, 220 pounds, plays at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa after moving to America with his mother three years ago from Senegal, a nation of about 13.1 million in western Africa,
Dime played soccer, volleyball, handball, tennis and even practiced karate back home.
"Growing up, I played all kinds of sports," Dime said. "I didn't play basketball until I got here in the U.S."
Dime is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Pulaar, Joola and Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal. He said he is thinking about taking advantage of his ability to speak so many languages when it comes to choosing a major in college.
"I'm undecided, but I'm thinking about international business," Dime said.
Dime plans to take an official visit to Arkansas on Sept. 19-21.
"I like the way they play, and I want to go check it out and see," Dime said. "They're one of my top choices thus far."
Brad Winton, who was a college coach for six years, operates jucorecruiting.com and said Dime is an athletic big man who can rebound, block shots and score in transition.
"Arkansas' system and style of play really suits him and fits the way he plays as well," Winton said. "Good hands, very, very mobile. He can get up and down in transition on both ends. Very good athlete that finishes above the rim. He has a ton of upside on the offensive end as well."
Dime has been communicating with Coach Mike Anderson, associate head coach Melvin Watkins and assistant Matt Zimmerman.
"I talk to them almost every day," Dime said. "So I suppose if they weren't recruiting me really hard, they wouldn't talk to me everyday."
He also plans official visits to Southern California on Aug. 29, Iowa State on Sept. 5 and Washington on Sept 27.
Dime said his interest in the Razorbacks stems from Anderson's up-tempo style of play.
"I love running and I'm athletic, and they said that they play like that," Dime said. "I get up and down the floor. That's a winning team, so I think that would be a good fit for me."
When he ranks prospects in October or November, Winton said he expects Dime to be among the top 15, possibly a top-10 recruit in the junior college ranks. He also likes Dime off the court.
"Just an unbelievable kid," Winton said. "The coaching staff, you couldn't have them speak more highly of one of their players."
It's also a plus for Arkansas that sophomore forward Moses Kingsley is from Nigeria.
"That would help, too," Dime said. "I actually don't know him, but I'll talk to him when I get there."
UA courts Jackson
Junior Tre Jackson is orally committed to Florida but plans to take an official visit to Arkansas in large part because of his relationship with receivers coach Michael Smith.
"He's just a real cool man," said Jackson, who is being recruited as an athlete. "We really built a good relationship. He talks to me a lot."
Jackson, 5-10, 170 pounds, 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays at Baton Rouge University Lab and has scholarship offers from Florida, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulane. An offer from the Hogs will likely come when he visits.
"He wants me to come up to campus first," Jackson said.
Jackson, whose father Jack played at Florida and in 1994 was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year for Florida, plays cornerback and receiver. Arkansas is the only school recruiting him to play both sides of the ball.
Smith has talked up the Hogs.
"He tells me it's a great place," said Jackson, who has a 38-inch vertical jump. "They're building a lot of stuff up there, and he wants me to play both ways."
He is confident he's a better athlete than his father.
"He's gotten older," Jackson said.
BEQUETTE TO CAL
Little Rock Catholic offensive and offensive lineman Luc Bequette orally committed to California a week ago after considering several offers.
Bequette, 6-2, 285 pounds, chose the Bears over scholarship offers from Memphis, Navy, Army, Air Force and Louisiana-Monroe.
"I just wanted to hop on the train sand make sure I had a spot," Bequette said. "Didn't have to wait and wait for other offers and them find someone else."
His father Chris and uncle Jay were offensive linemen for Arkansas in the 1980s and his late grandfather, George Bequette, was a lineman for Arkansas in the 1950s. He is a cousin of former Razorbacks and New England Patriots defensive end Jake Bequette.
California plans to use him on the defensive line.
"I really liked the coaches," Bequette said. "It's a BCS school and a great education."
CHECKING OUT UA
Offensive lineman Zach Rogers, who signed an athletic financial aid agreement with Arkansas on Thursday, attended the Razorbacks' scrimmage Saturday in Fayetteville. Junior linebacker/fullback Lucas Reynolds, 6-2, 220, 4.71 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Frisco, Texas, also was in attendance.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 08/10/2014