Jimmy Whitt was supposed to be part of an effort to push Arkansas men’s basketball back to prominence.
Instead, he’s leaving after just one season with questions abounding. Actually, I might be the only one scratching my head, because it appears that most, including the local media, are so apathetic to the Hogs basketball program that a four-star prospect leaving after one season just doesn’t create the buzz like it would have 20 years ago.
Regardless of the lack of response, this transfer is interesting and should be alarming for the Hogs staff. Whitt was a highly regarded recruit who averaged 30.6 points per game as a senior at Columbia (Mo.) Hickman High School. Whitt was ranked as a top 80 recruit by at least one recruiting service.
Hogs coach Mike Anderson used a relationship that dated back to when he was the coach at the University of Missouri and Whitt attended his summer basketball camp growing up. The Whitt family became close to Anderson, and Whitt also became friends with Hogs teammate Manny Watkins, the son of Melvin Watkins who was a Missouri assistant coach.
So Arkansas pulled off a recruiting coup stealing Whitt from hometown Missouri and others. Whitt arrived with fanfare and some not only thought he would make an immediate impact, but that he may leave Arkansas as one of its all-time stars.
The season started off well with the 6-foot-4 guard averaging 11 points through the first six games. Whitt also scored 14 points against Stanford and Charleston Southern.
Then, almost as quickly as he started, he stalled and while maybe he wasn’t an afterthought, his minutes and production decreased dramatically. Whitt averaged 24.9 minutes the first 10 games, then 13.7 the final 22 games in a reserve role.
So what I wonder is what happened and could this have been prevented? Because regardless of what coach speak comes out of Anderson’s mouth regarding the defection, this is bad news and something he doesn’t need while trying to revive the program. There have been plenty of setbacks the past year and count this as one more.
But back to the prevention part. Unless Whitt was a distraction to the team and breaking rules, which there is no evidence he was, the staff should have done everything it could to ease his concerns. I am not suggesting the coaches coddle him but help him to understand what is happening and develop his game so he continued to improve after the impressive start.
Arkansas had a lot invested in Whitt, whose best basketball is ahead of him. During a season where it was clear early, that the postseason was a long-shot, why not play Whitt? Let him learn and develop. That won’t happen if he sits on the bench.
He proved he had potential. He could have played more. For some reason he didn’t and we may never know why.
By the end the season Whitt was barely playing (eight minutes in a loss to Florida in the SEC Tournament). That would frustrate most players unless there was some clear communication. It is also odd that even though Whitt and Anderson had a close relationship, they couldn’t work things out. Apparently, Whitt didn’t feel like the situation was going to improve
"Obviously if he's transferring, he didn't view it long range as the right type of fit for him personally, what he'd like to do," Whitt’s father, Jim Whitt, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week. "It's a decision he's making himself.
"Certainly I'd be just fine with him being there at Arkansas, but as a father I'm supporting my son. I also wish Coach A and Arkansas the best. I think he's a fine coach and will do a great job for the university."
The questions may not ever be answered, but it should be troubling to Arkansas fans (the ones who still care about basketball).
Arkansas lost a player with a great deal of potential it really can’t afford to, and it doesn’t appear the staff did everything it could to keep Whitt in Fayetteville.
Nate Olson is a contributor to WholeHogSports