FAYETTEVILLE — There are two 2018 guard prospects manning the backcourt for the Arkansas Hawks’ 16-and-under AAU team that are just scratching the surface in terms of their potential.
Jonesboro’s Desi Sills (6-0, 160) and Fort Smith Northside’s Isaiah Joe (6-2, 170) have both been key cogs in the Hawks running up a 20-3 record heading into July action on the AAU circuit.
Both of them took in unofficial visits to Arkansas recently.
“The facilities are really nice and I like all the coaches and get along with them,” Joe said. “The players are all nice, too, and I know a lot of them. It was a pleasure to be there.”
Joe liked being around Razorback head coach Mike Anderson.
“It was real good,” Joe said. “He is a real good coach and really nice. He’s real funny and real comfortable to be around. I like him a lot.”
Sills echoed that same type sentiment.
“It is a beautiful program,” Sills said. “It is great to get all these exposure (to schools) as a young kid. It is a beautiful facility and all the coaches are pretty good people.”
Sills especially like the practice facility.
“We got to tour it,” Sills said. “I like everything about Arkansas, the gym and everything.”
Joe so far has one offer, a number that should increase as the Hawks play in July tournaments in South Carolina, St. Louis and Las Vegas.
“I have one right now in UALR, but a lot of teams are starting to show interest,” Joe said.”
He feels like he has gotten better this summer.
“I am getting a lot more aggressive and my teammates are really good teammates,” Joe said. “They feed me the ball and I feed them the ball. We just work together and every thing works out fine.
“I want to improve of my defense and my ball handling. I always want to improve on my shot. It’s real good right now, but it can always get better.”
Sills has seen interest lately from a trio of teams.
“Utah, Arkansas and Illinois,” Sills said. “No offers yet, but lots of interest.”
He also is working to improve.
“I feel good about driving and shooting the three, but I really want to work on my mid-range game,” Sills said.