The Recruiting Guy

UA eyes 6-10 shot-blocker from Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State center Willy Kouassi battles Cincinnati guard Kevin Johnson for a rebound on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff are expected to host center Willy Kouassi for an official visit June 5-7.

Kouassi, 6-10 1/2, 233 pounds, has been granted a release from Kennesaw State in Georgia and will play his senior year elsewhere. He plans to graduate in July with a degree in integrated studies and will be immediately eligible to play his final year at a new school.

He signed with Auburn in 2011 over Florida, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Georgia, Ole Miss and others. He averaged 10.2 minutes while playing in 25 games as a freshman for the Tigers before transferring to Kennesaw and sitting out the 2012-2013 season.

"We didn't give Arkansas a look out of high school, so we want to make sure we give them a look," said Darien Knox, who is Kouassi's guardian. "I think Willy's style of play fits Arkansas' style of play -- pressing, getting up and down the floor. Willy is a rim protector, a tremendous shot-blocker."

Kouassi started 25 of 27 games for Kennesaw State this past season and averaged 4.6 points, 5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He played in 31 games, starting 21, and averaged 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds as a sophomore.

Kouassi became Kennesaw'a all-time leader in blocked shots in two seasons.

"Willy is trying to block your shot and telling you he blocked it and get back down the court to get the defensive rebound to get his team back on offense," Knox said. "That's Willy. He'll snap on his teammates if they're not playing defense."

Kouassi, who has visited North Texas, will take an official visit to Western Kentucky this weekend before making his way to Fayetteville next weekend. He also will make trips to Memphis and Ole Miss.

Knox is the general manager and coach of Team Alabama CBA, the same spring and summer team Kouassi played with before college. Knox is familiar with Arkansas assistant T.J. Cleveland.

"I have a real strong relationship with T.J.," Knox said. "T.J. and I go back 10 to 15 years."

Kennesaw State went 16-47 in Kouassi's two seasons, and that's something he wants to get away from at his new school.

"Willy's No. 1 focus he keeps telling all of the coaches is he just wants to win," Knox said. "It's his senior year, and he needs to put himself in a better position to go professionally, but Willy just wants to win. He just wants to win."

Kouassi and Razorbacks forward JaCorey Williams were teammates at Central Park Christian Academy in Birmingham, Ala. ESPN rated Kouassi as the nation's No. 90 prospect during his senior season when he averaged 14 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.

"He just wants to be on a team where other guys are playing just as hard as he does and applying themselves on defense as well as offense," Knox said.

Knox and Kouassi talked to Anderson on Monday evening.

"He was trying to give us a quick history lesson and we learned a lot of things about Arkansas," Knox said. "Willy is really intrigued. He's really interested.

"He's going to have to compete just like the rest of the guys. Coach Anderson is interested in putting him and [Moses] Kingsley on the floor at the same time sometimes."

TEXAS TWOSOME

Arkansas was one of the first schools to extend a scholarship offer to highly recruited running back D'Vaughn Pennamon of Manvel, Texas, in January, and now he is up to 25 offers.

Pennamon, 5-11, 200, 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, also has scholarship offers from Florida, Georgia, Houston, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Nebraska and Kansas State.

He is being recruited by Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and running backs coach Jemal Singleton. Pennamon lists Arkansas and Houston as his leaders.

"They just welcome me like I'm a part of the team and family, like a Razorback," Pennamon said.

Pennamon, who rushed 62 times for 661 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior for the 13-1 Mavericks, said the Razorbacks' fan base also attracts him.

He recently ran a 9.93 split in the 400-meter relay to help Manvel win the Class 6A state title with a time of 40.32 on May 16. He said he likes how Jennings and Singleton recruit him.

"Like just telling me everything, I need to know to be a student-athlete at Arkansas," Pennamon said.

Singleton and Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves watched Manvel practice Wednesday. Hargreaves was there to see linebacker Jordan Carmouche, a major target of the Razorbacks.

Carmouche has visited Fayetteville and has spoken highly of the Hogs.

"Just how the town and game day is crazy," Pennamon said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 05/29/2015