FAYETTEVILLE — It was expected that Arkansas center signee Daniel Gafford would put up big numbers his senior season, but his numbers through El Dorado's first five games border on ridiculous.
Gafford (6-11, 223) is averaging 20.8 points, 20.2 rebounds and 10.3 blocks and has recorded a triple-double in four of five games.
El Dorado head coach Gary Simmons and the Wildcats (5-0) are the beneficiary of Gafford’s production.
“His numbers have just been off the charts, but that is a testament to all the hard work he has put in in the weight room in the offseason and how hard he worked during the summer,” Simmons said. “It couldn’t happen to a better kid and he is just blossoming before our eyes.”
Gafford is coming off a 18-point, 28-rebound, 13-block, 5-steal performance for El Dorado in an 72-69 win over North Little Rock Saturday night in the Rumble on the Ridge Championship.
“The thing that is most impressive to me is that he is doing this against great competition,” Simmons said. “We have had only one blowout, so most of his points, rebounds and blocks have been have all been critical for us in winning ballgames.”
Gafford started the season with a 36-point, 18-rebound, 15-block effort in a 76-73 win over Pine Bluff.
That came without 6-2 senior guard Czar Perry, who has signed with Itawamba, Miss., Community College, and was a performance that saw Gafford score 15 of his points in the fourth quarter.
“He just flat out put the game on his shoulders and put us on his back knowing that Czar was out,” Simmons said. “He wasn’t asking for the ball. He was demanding it and doing something with it every time he got the ball. It was just magical and showed his growth as a player.”
Perry had 36 points in the championship game and was named the MVP as El Dorado won its second straight Rumble title.
“Czar is a great player as well and it is hard for a lot of teams to handle both of them,” Simmons said. “They play so well together and really feed off of each other. Both are just great competitors and can’t stand to lose.”
Both of those players also thrived in a 74-72 semifinal win over Little Rock Parkview with Perry scoring 29 and Gafford having 21 points.
The Patriots feature both 2017 Razorback guard signee Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) and junior forward and Razorback class of 2018 commit Ethan Henderson.
Garland had a game-high 36 points and left Simmons wowed by his improvement.
“He was a good player last year, but his improvement from last year to now is remarkable,” Simmons said. “I think part of it might be that (former Parkview and current UALR player Ryan) Pippins is gone and it is now his team.
“He can get to the rim, handles the ball really well, shoots it well, defends. I know Daniel is excited about playing alongside both Garland and (Darious) Hall, all who are great players and will be great Razorbacks.”
El Dorado will open conference play on Friday at DeQueen.
The Wildcats will play in the Bank of Ozarks Tournament in Conway on Dec. 17 to face Little Rock Mills, which features Hall. El Dorado will also participate in the Coke Classic in Fort Smith Dec. 29-31.
"We could easily be 3-2 or 2-3 right now, but our kids have made key plays at the end of games to get us wins," Simmons said. "I'm excited about what we can do this season."