ESPN rates Arkansas 2017 power forward commitment Daniel Gafford the No. 60 overall prospect in the nation in the 2017 class.
Gafford, 6-11, 217 showed his outstanding athleticism at the Real Deal in the Rock tournament in Central Arkansas over the weekend, but he sees room for improvement.
“I need to improve on some stuff like getting bigger, getting physical in the paint and getting lower and then I need to work on my jump shot and free throws,” Gafford said.
He also sees a need to bulk up.
“My coach said I need at least a good 25 pounds, but I think I need to get a little bit more than that,” Gafford said.
Gafford, averaged 14 points and 14 rebounds for El Dorado this past season, runs the floor like a guard and has te ability to dominate defensively in the paint. He said he got his speed from his active childhood.
“I think that came from being little and running around all the time,” Gafford said. “I was never still when I was young. When I was a kid I didn’t want to play a game, I just wanted to go outside all the time and run around.”
Since his commitment to the Hogs last summer, schools have backed off in trying to recruit Gafford.
“I don’t know, I don’t they like me anymore,” Gafford said smiling. “I’m not going to say that, but I haven’t heard from nobody.”
He said he stays in touch with Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins, Coach Mike Anderson and assistant T.J. Cleveland.
“I pretty much talk to coach Watkins everyday,” he said.
Watkins is steady in his communication with Gafford.
“He sends me motivational quotes and makes sure my head up,” Gafford said. “He’ll keep in touch with me. I had to get my wisdom tooth out and and he made sure I was ok.”