Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and assistant coach Scotty Thurman are trying to talk one of the nation's top guard prospects into visiting Fayetteville.
Lindell Wigginton, 6-2½, 185 pounds, attends Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and has scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Oregon, Louisville, Arizona, Texas, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Oklahoma and several others.
Arkansas’ football 2017 commitments
POS. NAME HT. WT. 40 SCHOOL
OL Kirby Adcock 6-5 282 N/A Nashville
DE Ryder Anderson 6-6 230 4.9 Katy, Texas
WR Maleek Barkley 6-0 186 4.45 Austin (Texas) Lake Travis
Ath. Jarrod Barnes 5-11 172 4.37 Cabot
OL Shane Clenin 6-6 287 5.3 Festus (Mo.) Jefferson
CB Jordon Curtis 6-2 185 4.42 Jenks, Okla.
CB Korey Hernandez 5-11 175 4.5 Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove
QB Daulton Hyatt 6-4 182 4.62 Attala (Ala.) Etowah
WR Koilan Jackson 6-3 210 4.52 Pulaski Robinson
CB Jarques McClellion 6-1 180 4.41 Delray Beach (Fla.) American Hertiage
S Derrick Munson 6-0 200 4.6 Metairie (La.) Rummel
WR Jonathan Nance 6-1 181 4.44 Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
LB Josh Paul 6-2 205 4.76 New Orleans De La Salle
TE Jeremy Patton 6-6 243 4.59 Arizona Western College
WR De’Vion Warren 5-11 168 4.53 Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish
RB Maleek Williams 5-11 215 4.42 Punta Gorda (Fla.) Charlotte
Anderson and Thurman are selling immediate playing time.
"I could come in right away and be an impact player," Wigginton said. "I have the ability to do that, and they just want a player that's going to make their program better, but also try and get them to a higher level than where they are now."
Wigginton said he didn't know much about the Hogs until he received his offer in April, but he is catching up.
"I know the facilities are great, they have a good coaching staff and they let their guards play and their style of play really fits me," said Wiggington, who plays for Stackhouse Elite during the spring and summer in the Adidas Uprising league.
Wigginton is averaging 16.6 points, 3 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the team that's sponsored by former North Carolina star Jerry Stackhouse, who played 18 NBA seasons.
ESPN rates Wigginton the nation's No. 19 shooting guard and No. 60 overall prospect.
Wigginton said he likes how Anderson gives his guards freedom to make plays.
"That's a big deal for me, just a coach that's going to come in and let their guards play," Wigginton said. "I can do a lot at the guard spot. I can have the ball in my hands and create for my teammates. I'm versatile, I can play the 1 and the 2. I can shoot it and score a lot.
Thurman has known Stackhouse since his sophomore year at Arkansas when the two participated in the 1993 Olympic Festival.
Stackhouse, an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, has spoken well of Thurman and that's a plus for the Hogs.
"He knows the real and the fake," Wigginton said of Stackhouse. "He knows the real people and the people that are going to tell you what you want to hear."
Wigginton, who says he's been hearing from Thurman almost every day, reports a 3.4 grade point average and said he is looking to study business or maybe sports management. He's not sure when he'll sign with a school, but could narrow his list in the near future.
"I might cut my list down right after July, but I really don't know when I'm going to sign or commit," he said.
TAKE IT FROM STOERNER
Former Arkansas and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Clint Stoerner worked the Arkansas three-day camp June 19-21 and liked what he saw of Razorbacks quarterback commitment Daulton Hyatt.
Hyatt, 6-4, 183, 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Attalla (Ala.) Etowah, picked the Hogs over 15 other offers, including those from schools like Miami, Maryland, Louisville, Missouri and Vanderbilt.
ESPN rates Hyatt the nation's No. 6 pocket-passing quarterback and No. 148 overall prospect. Hyatt took part in two days of the camp.
"Obviously a really, really high ceiling," Stoerner said. "He's a good-looking kid that moves really, really well. Like moves next level fluid movements. When he runs it's just effortless. He hasn't hit his ceiling yet."
Stoerner said he believes Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos will do wonders for Hyatt.
"He throws the ball really well," Stoerner said. "But he's a kid you look at and you go, 'Man, you put this kid in a college weight room and he gains 15 to 20 pounds and gets coached by Dan Enos for a year or two, he's going to be really special.' "
Hyatt passed for 2,250 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore at Arab High School before transferring to Attalla his junior season. He threw for 1,100 yards for a 1-9 team that lost 23 seniors from the year before.
Stoerner said he was also impressed with Hyatt's demeanor and confidence.
"There was natural swagger to him," Stoerner said. "I think we throw that word around way too often. There's a lot of guys with Twitter swag and fashion swag and all that kind of stuff, but when you have a good genuine sincere swag -- that people, no matter where they're from respond well to --that's the kind of swag you're looking for in a quarterback."
Stoerner said Hyatt's talent and the way he carries himself seemed to win over the other campers.
"A lot of times you put an elite guy that's getting a lot of attention in that environment ... usually there would be a lot of hating and a lot of guys would kind of go in a different direction and maybe shy away from him, but with him it seemed like guys gravitated to him," Stoerner said.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 07/03/2016