FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas 2017 hoops commit Daniel Gafford continues to rack up the accolades as he prepares for his senior season at El Dorado.
Gafford (6-11, 223), ranked 35th nationally by Scout.com and 52nd by ESPN and part of a Razorback class ranked sixth nationally, is coming off a standout performance at the NBPA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Virginia.
He averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks – third best in the camp – while going against the nation’s best centers and learning from some 35 current and former NBA players.
“It was a great experience and I went against some of the best centers in the country,” Gafford said. “You had to bring it every game and really every play or you would get embarrassed.
“I thought I really competed well and I know I got better each day. Going against the best there is and doing well gave me a lot of confidence.”
Gafford, who averaged 14 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks for El Dorado last season, will next be action when his Team Portis Wings AAU squad competes in the inaugural Nike Peach Invitational July 6-10 in North Augusta, S.C.
The Team Portis Wings finished 25th in EYBL play this spring, but only the top 24 advanced to the Nike Peach Jam.
The summer will end up with the Nike Las Vegas Invitational July 20-24.
“We started off slow and then really picked it up, but got going too late,” Gafford said. “We just need to have a great July and finish strong.
Gafford, averaging 9.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in EYBL action, will also compete in the Nike Ty Lawson and Victor Oladipo All-American Camp in Washington D.C. area in mid-July.
“I am working mostly on my jump shot right now,” Gafford said. “I can do a lot of things inside and I attack the rim as much as I can, but I want to get where I can step out and knock down some shots.”
Scout.com’s Brian Snow has seen a lot of Gafford.
“Gafford has been very good this spring,” Snow said. “He is a long athlete who can really rebound and defend. Offensively he remains a work in progress but he shows a ton of long term potential.”
Corey Evans of HoopSeen also likes what he has seen out of Gafford.
“When we talk about some of the top 5-men in the 2017 class, guys like DeAndre Ayton, Wendell Carter, and Mo Bamba come to mind.,” Evans said. “The list goes doesn’t just stop there and while those three are considered elite, it is about time we start giving our respects to Daniel Gafford.
“Having committed early in the process to the in-state Arkansas Razorbacks program, the 6-foot-10 center has continued to improve while remaining true to what he does best. A fine rim protector that sports great length and mobility in getting up and down the floor, Gafford is going to be a fine producer in the SEC for years to come.
.... He is the perfect fit for Mike Anderson’s up and down system in Fayetteville and should be an immediate producer with further upside once he gets to campus next fall.”
Gafford and Little Rock Mills small forward Darious Hall (6-6, 215) are the two members of the Razorbacks’ 2017 class so far that is ranked sixth nationally by Scout.com.
Both are hoping to add Little Rock Parkview guard Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) to Arkansas’ haul of in-state commits.
“He (Garland) is a great player and a great competitor,” Gafford said. “When we go up against him in high school or AAU, he is always playing hard and willing his team to win.
“I would love to have him in this class with Darious and myself. That would be some Arkansas guys getting the Razorbacks back to where they need to be.”