FAYETTEVILLE — When the Arkansas basketball team takes the court next season, fans will see several new faces.
The Razorbacks will be without six players from the 2013-14 roster – five graduates and one transfer – but will have five new players on their 2014-15 roster.
Roster Changes
Out
-Coty Clarke (graduated)
-Fred Gulley (graduated)
-Kikko Haydar (graduated)
-Rickey Scott (graduated)
-Mardracus Wade (graduated)
-Dee Wagner (transfered)
In
-Nick Babb (high school)
-Anton Beard (high school)
-Jabril Durham (junior college)
-Keaton Miles (transfer/sat out last year)
-Trey Thompson (high school)
Two players that are generating the most excitement are point guards Jabril Durham and Anton Beard.
Durham, a junior college transfer from Seminole State, and Beard, a freshman from North Little Rock, are expected to take pressure off senior guard Ky Madden, who had to play point guard much of last season.
“I think it’ll help (Madden) out a lot because Coach (Mike Anderson) can move him to the two and let him shoot it more from the wing,” sophomore forward Bobby Portis said.
Anderson said that both players have made strides this summer, but neither has separated himself as a clear starter.
“I think they fit what we’re doing,” Anderson said. “It’s easy to put them out there and they get a feel for what’s taking place. They’re getting familiar with all the different weapons we have.”
That said, the fourth-year Arkansas coach said Durham’s experience in junior college is valuable. As a sophomore at Seminole State, he averaged 21.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
“His experience is going to be big for this basketball team,” Anderson said. “I really think he’s going to be one of the real bright spots, when you’re talking about a guy that’s already played a couple years of basketball.”
Durham is a player that can score off the dribble or knock down shots, but Anderson said his best quality is being able to create shots for other players.
“We have guards now that can create and put those guys in position where they can just finish off plays,” Anderson said. “Big guys love playing with players like that.”
Portis agrees with his coach, acknowledging that Durham is “not just going in there trying to shoot it every time.” He also believes Beard is another hard-nosed point guard to the roster.
Nick Babb, a guard from Martin High in Arlington, Texas, will also be a freshman for the Razorbacks this season. He is the only newcomer that had to wait until the second summer session before joining the team in Fayetteville. Anderson said that was because of a late graduation date for Babb's high school.
Arkansas will also add a pair of big men this season.
Keaton Miles, a 6-foot-7 forward, was on the team last year but had to sit out after transferring from West Virginia, while Trey Thompson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Forrest City will be a freshman.
Anderson said he was glad to have Thompson all summer so he could adjust to the talent level at Arkansas, compared to Forrest City, a class 5A high school.
“Coming out of high school, he’s playing with guys he can probably block their shots with his armpits,” Anderson said. “Now he’s going against some bigger bodies (that) are a lot faster and quicker.”
The addition of Thompson gives the Razorbacks a third player that stands at least 6-foot, 9-inches tall, joining Portis and sophomore center Moses Kingsley.
Having three players of that height could allow Anderson to play multiple big men at the same time.
“I think Trey will help me out a lot during the season just because he’s another 6-9, 6-10 kid," Anderson said. “This year we’ll get a chance to see me and Moses or Trey and Moses or me and Trey on the court together.”
Miles could provide Arkansas with a player that can set screens, rebound and block shots.
“He’s going to be a guy that’s going to be very similar to what Coty (Clarke) gave us,” Anderson said. “He’s looking forward to this year. It’s a good addition for us.”
Overall, the Razorbacks will have to replace 36.1 percent of their minutes and 27.5 percent of their scoring, but Anderson said he believes that the five newcomers, as well as the players that return from last year, will be more than enough.
“I’m excited about those guys being added to what we already have,” Anderson said. “I think we have a lot of ‘we’ guys and hopefully that means we have some depth.”