Arkansas men's basketball Coach Mike Anderson is expected to sign one prospect while waiting to hear from another today, the first day of the early signing period that runs until Nov. 19.
Combination guard Jimmy Whitt, 6-2, 170, of Columbia (Mo.) Hickman, plans to sign his national letter of intent with the Hogs at 4:30 p.m. during a ceremony at the school.
Power forward Ted Kapita, 6-9, 222, of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep isn't expected to sign with a school today, said Coach Arkell Bruce.
ESPN rates Kapita the No. 8 power forward and No. 37 overall prospect. Bruce accompanied Kapita on his official visit to Arkansas on Oct. 24-26. Kapita visited West Virginia and Memphis before coming to Fayetteville.
Whitt is ESPN's No. 9-rated point guard and No. 68 overall. He is the top prospect in Missouri, according to ESPN.
Hickman Coach David Johnson said Whitt has a good overall game along with a high basketball IQ.
"He understands the game, understands situations," Johnson said. "He'a a winner. He wants to be successful. He's a kid that can pretty much score anywhere on the basketball court and make other players better and just has great instincts as far as defensively. He's had over 270 steals the last two years."
Whitt averaged 22.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 4.4 steals and 1.4 blocks a game as a junior and led Hickman to a 27-3 record and to the Missouri Class 5 state title game.
Arkansas has space for two signees with the expected departure of senior guard Rashad Madden and fifth-year senior forward Alandise Harris after this season. There is also a chance sophomore forward Bobby Portis or junior guard Michael Qualls could leave after this season for the NBA, which would give Anderson one or two more openings.
Whitt, who averaged 17.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists for KC Run GMC during the spring and summer, is expected to fill one of the slots.
Johnson said Whitt's defensive abilities are enhanced with him having the wingspan of a 6-8 player, something Johnson hasn't seen for a player the size of Whitt.
"I really haven't," Johnson said. "Obviously, that's advantageous for the steals he makes, but the thing about his athleticism also steps in there."
Johnson said he often had to remind Whitt to retrieve the large amount of mail from colleges that would pile up on his desk.
"He would hide the letters, so he wasn't showing them in front of the players," Johnson said. "He didn't want that to be the point of emphasis. He was almost like embarrassed. That told me a lot of what kind of kid he was."
One player who is not expected to sign with the Razorbacks is North Little Rock's KeVaughn Allen, the 2013-2014 Arkansas Preps player of the year. Allen, 6-3, 170, is committed to Florida and is scheduled to sign with the Gators during a 3:30 p.m. signing ceremony at the school Thursday.
Arkansas women's coach Jimmy Dykes is expected to sign five prospects during the early signing period.
Guard Bailey Zimmerman of Wonderview will sign with the Razorbacks at 1:30 p.m. today while North Little Rock point guard Malica Monk and Conway point guard Jordan Danberry will sign at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Forwards Keiryn Swenson of Wichita (Kan.) Maize and Briunna Freeman of Pelham, Ga., are also expected to sign.
Sports on 11/12/2014