The Recruiting Guy

RECRUITING: Basketball players enjoy UA visit

Rodgerick Brown

Arkansas impressed junior guard Keyshawn Embery and junior forward Rodgerick Brown during unofficial visits Saturday.

Embery, 6-4, 187 pounds, of Midwest City, Okla., has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Nevada-Las Vegas, Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

"It was a great visit," Embery said of his trip to Arkansas. "They showed a lot of love. Great campus. I love what I saw. The coaches talked to me a lot and showed me around."

Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson, his staff and the players create a family atmosphere, Embery said.

"The players coming up and introducing themselves and getting me involved," said Embery, who also praised Anderson's wife Marcheita for making him feel welcomed.

Embery also said Anderson told him he likes his ability to play point guard or shooting guard.

"He said he could use me a lot because I'm a combo guard," Embery said.

Embery averaged 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while playing for the 17-under Oklahoma Run PWP during the spring and summer. Embery said Walton Arena and Arkansas' new practice facility impressed him.

"I liked the look of everything," Embery said. "I like how you're able to get in [the practice facility] 24/7. Overall, I loved it."

Embery was given a rundown on Arkansas' sports medicine program, his desired major.

Embery said he enjoyed seeing the wall of Arkansas' NBA first-round draft picks that included Joe Johnson, Todd Day and Lee Mayberry. Seeing former players like Mayberry, T.J. Cleveland and Scotty Thurman on the staff also impressed him.

"It was surprising," Embery said. "It's good they're still around."

Embery said the visit helped the Hogs in their pursuit of him.

"But I still have my eyes open, though I'm still young and still trying to figure things out," said Embery, who added he plans to make another trip to Fayetteville, but he isn't certain of the date.

Brown, 6-6, 200, of Cordova, Tenn., said it was good to see what the Hogs had to offer.

"The players and coaches are great and they made me feel really at home," Brown said. "They have made me feel like a top priority and that means a lot to me."

He 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, who averaged 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.8 steal per game as a sophomore, said earlier in the month the Razorbacks were at the top of his list. He said nothing has changed.

"Arkansas is my leader right now," Brown said.

He raved about Arkansas' facilities after the visit.

"The practice facility is one of the best things that I have ever seen," he said. "It has everything that a player needs to develop, and I think I could really use it to my advantage as I try to make it to the next level."

Brown was able to watch Arkansas' football team defeat Texas State 42-3 on Saturday night.

"Arkansas' fans are outrageous," Brown said. "They were intense and into every play and also very intimidating to the other team. "

Advantage Aggies

Texas A&M, designated as the home team Saturday when it plays Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be able to host prospects on unofficial visits. The Razorbacks hosted recruits at last year's game as the home team.

In 2012, the SEC allowed schools to entertain recruits during games at neutral sites. That same year, Arkansas and A&M signed a 10-year contract to hold games in Arlington through 2024. The Hogs see the series as a recruiting tool for football and enrollment purposes.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 09/20/2016