LAS VEGAS — Arkansas may get a visit from one of the premier junior power forwards in the nation in the coming months.
Carte’are Gordon, 6-9, 257 pounds of St. Louis, (Mo.) Webster Grove has approximately 17 scholarship offers from schools like Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Notre Dame, Iowa State, Texas, and Purdue while drawing strong interest from Arkansas and numerous others.
ESPN rates him the No. 11 power forward and No. 24 overall prospect in the nation for the 2018 class. He said he and assistant coach Scotty Thurman are in steady contact.
“We talk like almost everyday,” Gordon said. “I just started talking to him a couple weeks ago and he calls me every now and then and talks to me about the program and he tells me he wants me to come down. We talk quite bit about a visit.”
Gordon said a trip to Fayetteville this fall is probability.
“I’ll probably go down for a football game or something,” he said.
He earned a spot on the USA 17-under team and averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 72 percent from the field to help the USA defeat Turkey 96-56 in the International Basketball Federation Association World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain on June 23- July 3.
Gordon is in the early stages of gathering information on the Hogs, but does know of a former Razorback from the St. Louis area.
“I don’t know a lot about them, but I know B.J. Young from St. Louis use to go there,” Gordon said. “Coach Scotty talks about it like it’s good. So I’m excited to go see what it’s like.”
Young has spoken well of the Hogs.
“He said he liked it,” Gordon said.
Gordon has an upbeat personality and a glowing smile.
“I just have a great passion for the game,” Gordon said. “I love playing and I understand that I’m blessed to be out here, so I’m going to take a advantage of it.”