The Recruiting Guy

Basketball recruit impressed with 2018 class

Arkansas basketball coach Mike Anderson watches from the sideline during a scrimmage Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Fayetteville.

A top target for Arkansas basketball Coach Mike Anderson has started his junior season with a bang.

Small forward Rodgerick Brown, 6-6, 200 pounds, of Cordova, Tenn., is averaging 19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists in 3 games this season.

As a sophomore, he averaged 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.8 steals a game. He cites several reasons for his improved stats.

"My decision making and ball handling has improved and my range is now 18 feet and beyond now," Brown said.

Brown has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Tulsa, Penn State, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee-Chattanooga. He's also drawing interest from Iowa State, Memphis, Missouri, Murray State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Belmont.

Brown and his parents visited Fayetteville on Sept. 17 for the Hogs football game against Texas State. Prior to his visit, he said the Razorbacks were his leader and maintains that's true now.

Brown was impressed with the Hogs two victories over Southern Illinois and Texas-Arlington.

"I see the Hogs [have] been winning and even came back from double digits and won. I play like that to the zero," Brown said.

He plans to make a return trip to Arkansas for the Mount St. Mary's game Monday. While the Hogs lead for him, he's not ready to make a decision.

"I'm focused on my high school season and winning a state title," Brown said.

One reason for his fondness for the Razorbacks is his relationship with assistant T.J. Cleveland and the family atmosphere.

"He talks about school work, family life and then basketball," Brown said. "It's a family environment like what I'm accustomed to."

Hoopscooponline.com rates Arkansas' 2018 class of forward Reggie Perry, 6-10, 225 pounds, of Thomasville, Ga., forward Ethan Henderson, 6-9, 190, of Little Rock Parkview, guard Isaiah Joe, 6-2, 160, of Fort Smith Northside and guard Desi Sills, 6-1, 170, of Jonesboro the No. 1 class in the nation.

Brown said that impressive class is a bonus.

"I like to play with talent and like the whole system and style of play and I can see me in the Hog five," he said.

Signing next for CB

Arkansas cornerback commitment Jordon Curtis closed out his high school career last week and is a couple of months from signing with the Hogs.

Curtis, 6-2, 185, 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Jenks, Okla., chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Illinois, Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Purdue and Rice, among others.

He and Jenks lost 45-21 to Tulsa Union in the Class 6A-I state semifinals and were denied a chance for their fifth consecutive state title. He recorded 15.5 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 returned for touchdowns while rushing 63 times for 784 yards, 9 touchdowns and had 8 receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Curtis also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown this season. Jenks special teams and recruiting coordinator Carl Johnson said Curtis is very athletic and that his versatility makes him special.

"Anytime you have a guy with SEC-type talent and can play in all three phases of the game and be a threat in all three phases, that's a huge deal," Johnson said. "We're going to miss Jordon's contributions, but we know he's going to do great things at the University of Arkansas."

Curtis' height and length should allow him to match up well with SEC receivers.

"Number one, I think he has a little bit more length than a lot of corners," Johnson said. "I think he'll provide good match ups for the receivers. His ball instincts are really good and obviously being an offensive player too, his ball skills are good too. He knows how to handle the ball and knows what to do with it as evidenced by a couple of interceptions returned for touchdowns."

Johnson believes Curtis' upside is tremendous.

"Especially when they get him over there and he focuses and concentrates on one side of the ball and learns all the techniques they want him to learn," Johnson said. "He's still raw as a DB even though he was a three-year starter for us."

Email Richard Davenport atrdavenport@arkansasonline.com