Arkansas basketball Coach Mike Anderson and his staff will get an unofficial visit from one of the top junior guards in the nation when Keyshawn Embery visits Fayetteville on Sept. 17.
Assistant T.J. Cleveland and Anderson are staying in touch with him.
How Arkansas’ 2017 football commitments are faring
PS.; NAME;HT.;WT.;40;SCHOOL;TONIGHT;FOR SEASON
OL; KIRBY ADCOCK; 6-5; 300; Nashville; vs. DeQueen Helped Scrappers accumulate 398 rushing and 236 passing yards
DE; RYDER ANDERSON;6-6; 230; 4.9; Katy, Texas; at The Woodlands 2 UT, 2 QB hurries
Ath; MALEEK BARKLEY; 5-11, 180; 4.45; Austin, (Texas) Lake Travis; at Dallas Jesuit 20-73 rushing, 1 TD, 12-174 receiving, 1 TD, 1-21 KOR
Ath; JARROD BARNES; 5-11; 172; 4.37; Cabot; at El Dorado 15-108 rushing, 2 TDs, 8-11-113 passing, 4-100 KOR, 1 TD
S; MONTARIC BROWN; 6-1;180; 4.5; Ashdown; at Hope 9 tackles, 9-110 receiving, 1-18 KOR, 3-5 PR
OL; SHANE CLENIN; 6-6; 295; 5.1 Festus (Mo.) Jefferson; vs. St. Pius X 20 pancake blocks, helped team average 380 rushing yards, 14 TT, 3 TFL
CB; JORDON CURTIS; 6-2, 185: 4.42; Jenks, Okla.; vs. Union 4 TT, 1 INT return for a score, 18-207 rushing, 2 TDs, 4-58 receiving
RB; CHASE HAYDEN; 5-11; 185; 4.47; Collierville (Tenn.) St. George’s Independent School; vs. Evangelical Christian 26-254 rushing, 4 TDs, 4-46 receiving, 2-40 PR, 3 UT
DB; KOREY HERNANDEZ; 5-11; 175; 4.5; Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove; at Columbia 12 TT, 5 PBU, 1-9 rushing, 1-50 KOR
QB; DAULTON HYATT; 6-4; 182; 4.62; Attalla (Ala.) Etowah; vs. Guntersville 27-40-517 passing, 5 TDs, 1 INT, 15-132 rushing, 1 TD
WR; KOILAN JACKSON; 6-3; 210; 4.52; Joe T. Robinson; vs. Central Arkansas Christian 4-106 receiving, 2 TDs, 1-10 PR
CB;JARQUES MCCLELLION; 6-1; 180; 4.41; Delray Beach (Fla.) American Heritage; at Glades Central 15 TT, 5-141 receiving, 1 TD, 1-41 KOR
S;DERRICK MUNSON 6-0; 200; 4.6; Metairie (La.) Rummel; at Covington 19 TT, 2 INTs
WR; JONATHAN NANCE; 6-1;181; 4.44; Miss. Gulf Coast C.C.; vs. East Mississippi 6-28 receiving
LB; JOSH PAUL; 6-2; 205; 4.76; New Orleans De La Salle; at Hancock 7 TT, 1 INT
TE; JEREMY PATTON; 6-6; 248; 4.59; Arizona Western College; vs. Pima No stats
OL; DALTON WAGNER; 6-9; 312; n/a; Richmond-Burton (Ill.); vs. Johnsburg 4 TT, 0.5 sack, 1 TFL
Ath.; De’VION WARREN; 5-11; 168; 4.53; Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish; vs. Marshall, Texas 10-18-84 passing, 1 TD, 9-54 rushing, 2 TDs,
RB; MALEEK WILLIAMS;5-11;215;4.42; Punta Gorda (Fla.) Charlotte; vs. North Miami 13-105 rushing, 3 TDs
"They fit what I do and how I play," Embery said. "I get up and down. I love the coaching staff. They communicate a lot and try and build relationships with you.'
Embery, 6-4, 187 pounds out of Midwest City High School in Oklahoma, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Nevada-Las Vegas, Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Kansas State.
He averaged 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game for the 17-under Oklahoma Run PWP during the spring in the Under Armour Association Grassroots Basketball Circuit.
Oklahoma RUN PWP Coach Jermaine Simpson said Embery's size and ability to play both guard spots are among some of his assets.
"He's still growing a little bit," Simpson said. "And just being able to handle the ball at the level he does. He loves getting to the rim. So we've been spending a lot of time trying to make sure that he continues to develop in between the three and trying to get to the rim. That's something he's really taking pride in.
"He can score from anywhere. He's just one of those kids that has a knack for scoring."
Embery said the Hogs are recruiting him to play the point and shooting guard positions.
"Because I can play the one or the two," Embery said. "You can put me on the ball or off the ball."
Embery has a 3.3 grade-point average and is looking at sports medicine or business as possible majors.
He described his impressions of Arkansas after watching them this past season.
"Mainly hustling and talking," he said. "Defense mainly. They play hard the whole game. They're going to play hard."
The Hogs' style of play and Embery's effort on the floor seem to be a good fit.
"That's something he's always done," Simpson said. "He plays at a high level. He loves up-tempo. It's a perfect match with everything Arkansas does."
Embery brings high energy to the hardwood along with an eye toward spreading the ball around.
"Just playing hard, just trying to get my teammates involved communicating on the floor and looking for open spots and getting to the spots," said Embery, who believes UCLA and Creighton could be the next schools to offer.
Simpson said Embery is very mature for his age.
"He understands what he needs to do completely," Simpson said. "He has a full understanding of the process. What grades he needs to make and how he needs to carry himself in public."
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 09/09/2016