Future Razorbacks rout at Real Deal in the Rock

Arkansas Hawks players Ja'Mon Smith, left, and Desi Sills, center, along with Dallas Pacers' Jordan Massenburg scramble for a loose ball during the first round in the Real Deal in the Rock Tournament at P.A.R.K. Friday, March 31, 2017, in Little Rock.

— With almost every member of the current Arkansas basketball team and a couple of 2017 Razorback signees in attendance, Justice Hill and his fellow “Hog 5” teammates showed why the future looks so bright at Arkansas.

Hill had 11 assists to lead the Arkansas Hawks to a 91-53 AAU win over the Dallas Pacers on Friday at Real Deal in the Rock. Isaiah Joe added 21 points on five made 3-pointers; Ethan Henderson scored 19 points and had 12 rebounds; and Reggie Perry scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds for the Hawks.

Jonesboro guard Desi Sills had 9 points and Houston native DeShang Weaver - another 2018 prospect that Arkansas has offered - chipped in 6 points in what was the Hawks’ season opener before a capacity crowd at P.A.R.K.

“I think we had some early game jitters because there were so many people in here and they came to see us put on a show,” Hill said. “But we settled down and played well and I am sure we will come back and play even better on Saturday.”

The Hawks, who went 33-5 last season, have a starting lineup that is pledged to play at Arkansas.

Hill (5-10, 160 pounds) is the lone sophomore of the group with the other four being juniors.

But the Little Rock Christian standout and son of former Arkansas football assistant Fitz Hill confirmed that he is considering graduating early and coming in with Hawks teammates in 2018.

“We have really just started talking about it, but we are considering it heavily,” Justice Hill said.

Hill said the Hawks feel comfortable playing together and sharing the load.

“I think we have all come back ready to play with each other,” Hill said. “I think we all pretty much carried the load for our teams during the school ball year and I think it is a relief to all get back together and share the ball.”

Hill believes that the Hawks could be even better this season because of the mindset of the team.

“Last year I think there were times that we were playing for the scholarships and the coaches,” Hill said. “But now we are going to be playing for each other and that should make us even better.”

The Hawks will be back in action Saturday at P.A.R.K. at 12:20 p.m. when they take on the Atlanta Celtics, a team that was originally scheduled to be Friday’s foe, but could not arrive in time.

Hill noted that his team had put in the work during spring break last week to get ready for this weekend.

“Everybody was out of school and it was a time when we could get together and practice,” Hill said. “We wanted to take advantage of the time we had to be the best we could be.”

Hill said that he and his teammates are all excited about how Arkansas finished its 2016-2017 season.

“I was so proud of the guys,” Hill said. “I came up there for a lot of the games. I thought they gave it all and it had not been about a couple of bad calls by the referees they would have beaten North Carolina and no telling how far they would have gone.

“We are all excited about getting up there and continuing what they have going.”