Recruiting Guy

Father knows Razorbacks have got son's back

Junior forward Reggie Perry

When their son orally committed to Arkansas on Wednesday, Al and Kimberli Perry were on board with his decision, but how the program looks out for its own really stuck out to them.

Junior forward Reggie Perry, 6-10, 225 pounds, of Thomasville, Ga., chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Alabama, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Arizona State, Mississippi State and Iowa State. He honored his father by committing on his birthday.

Al Perry, who played point guard for Mississippi State in 1974-1978 and led the SEC in assists in 1975 and 1976, also was an assistant coach for 18 years at Murray State, Indiana State, Niagara and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, among others.

"I've been to a lot of different places as a college coach and been around with Reggie," Al Perry said. "For me, -- and I tell other people this, but it's hard for other people to see this -- but four of the more impressive things I really liked about Arkansas ... [are] Lee Mayberry, Scotty Thurman, Coach [Nolan] Richardson and Coach [Mike] Anderson.

"Coach Richardson is still a part [of the program] and, of course, Coach Anderson came back and to see how they still embrace Scotty and Lee Mayberry, that's pretty deep to me. I don't know if we can get that anywhere else because I've been at a high level as a player. How you treat your players when it's all said and done? What have you done for me lately? That's crucial to me."

The Perrys moved to Little Rock from Mississippi when their son was in the sixth grade and remained until about three years ago. Reggie Perry began playing for the Arkansas Hawks in the summers after arriving in the state.

His parents said they also were impressed to see former Razorback greats Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph still active in the program.

Al Perry, who coached under former Arkansas assistant Andy Stoglin at Jackson State, said he feels good about his son being at Arkansas.

"You can't play forever," he said. "As they say, 'I got your back.' They got your back. It's evident the university has their athletes backs when you look at how their former athletes are still involved. That's big-time."

'HOG FIVE' GROWING

When Little Rock Christian sophomore and Arkansas Hawks point guard Justice Hill committed to Arkansas earlier this year, he promised to reach out to other top prospects and encourage them to become Razorbacks.

Since his pledge, Hill has been working on his fellow Hawks teammates and with forward Reggie Perry's commitment Wednesday, it makes two of his teammates who have pledged to the Hogs.

Guard Isaiah Joe, 6-2, 160, of Fort Smith Northside, committed to the Razorbacks earlier this month for the 2018 class. Jonesboro guard Desi Sills, 6-1, 170, is another Hawk possibly joining the list of 2018 Arkansas commitments. Sills plans to visit Fayetteville today and could commit to the Hogs before leaving.

"It's exciting," Hill said. "I'm excited about the process and the opportunity I have to play with my teammates all the way until we graduate and I'm just ready for the time to come

Hill, the son of former Arkansas football assistant and San Jose State head coach Fitz Hill, had been recruiting Perry hard. Only recently did he believe the forward was going to be a Razorback.

"I called all of my teammates and asked when they were committing, and Reggie said he was going to take one more visit. Then he thought he was going to commit and that's when I knew he was coming," Hill said.

Should Sills jump on Arkansas' commitment list, Hill said he will focus on Hawks forward Ethan Henderson, 6-8, 190, of Little Rock Parkview, another highly-regarded 2018 prospect.

Henderson has scholarship offers from Arkansas, LSU, Notre Dame, Indiana, Texas and Arizona State. If the Hogs land Henderson, the Hawks could be the first spring and summer program to have five starters attend the same college.

ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi, who coached 18 years on the NCAA Division-I level, recently said he couldn't recall a starting five signing with one school.

"My dad calls it 'The Hog Five,' " Hill said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 08/19/2016