FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ top remaining in-state basketball target in the 2017 class is ready to make his decision public.
Little Rock Parkview senior guard Khalil Garland (6-foot-6, 190 lbs.) - ranked as the 61st-best player in the country, per ESPN.com - confirmed Wednesday night that he plans to announce his decision Saturday at 5 p.m.
Garland, who is playing AAU basketball for Team Penny this spring and summer on the EYBL circuit, said he will announce between four schools: Arkansas, LSU, Alabama and UALR.
“Me and my parents decided it was time,” Garland said. “I will announce via Twitter.”
The Razorbacks have the nation’s sixth-best recruiting class, according to several recruiting services, with the pledges of El Dorado center Daniel Gafford (6-foot-11, 233 lbs.) - ESPN’s 35th-best player - and Little Rock Mills small forward Darious Hall (6-foot-7, 210 lbs.).
Garland, who de-committed from Memphis after embattled head coach Josh Pastner left for Georgia Tech, averaged 18 points as a junior while leading Little Rock Parkview to the Class 6A state title.
He had 20 points and was named the MVP of the state title game.
Garland has averaged 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals for Team Penny, which is 18-3 in AAU play so far and is just off a top four finish in the Peach Jam.
Team Penny is coached by former Memphis star Penny Hardaway and former Arkansas star Todd Day.
Hardaway told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that he sees Garland as a point guard.
"Yeah, he's a one," Hardaway said. "We gotta work on that jumper. But (he's an) all-around player. Defensively you can put him on anybody. He can rebound, push the ball, he's athletic. I like him a lot."
Garland, who also has offers from UConn, Baylor, Florida, Creighton and others, told the Commercial Appeal that he has learned a lot from Hardaway.
”It's really good because he wants me to be a point guard,” Garland said. “He works me out, teaches me the game and how to see the floor. He's a big influence."