Hogs' hard work sways Durham

Point guard Jabril Durham.

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff’s hard work and family atmosphere helped junior college point guard Jabril Durham chose the Hogs on Thursday.

“They have recruited me the heaviest,” Durham said. “I love Coach Anderson’s style of play, and I know that I can help Arkansas basketball continually improve back to the tradition that they are use to with my leadership, my instinctive ability, knowing when to shoot or pass and my character that I display.”

Durham, 6-1, 180 pounds of Seminole State College in Oklahoma chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Western Kentucky, Marquette and several others.

He averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 44.1 percent from beyond the three-point line this season.

“Coach Anderson and the whole staff, coach (Melvin) Watkins, coach (T.J.) Cleveland,” Durham said. “They all made it a priority to come see me play. I basically saw the whole staff. I even saw coach (Matt) Zimmerman as well. That showed they really have high interest in me. Some schools I only saw one coach or sometimes I never saw the head coach at all.”

Durham fits the description of a point guard.

“I’m a distributer, I’m a great leader on and off the court,” said Durham, who shot 74.2 percent from the free throw line. “I can score which a point guard in the SEC needs to be able to do. I play defense as well.”

He plans to sign with Arkansas on April 16, the first day of the spring signing period.