FAYETTEVILLE — Baton Rouge, La., Madison Central forward Josh LeBlanc was expecting to be impressed when he arrived in Fayetteville this weekend, but his visit surpassed his expectations.
“It far exceeded what I thought it would be,” LeBlanc said. “It’s a great place with great facilities and great coaches. I can really see myself being a great fit there.”
LeBlanc (6-7, 210 pounds), who averaged 14.8 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots per game last season, visited Georgetown before Arkansas and has plans to take official visits to Texas A&M and LSU.
“I liked hanging out with the team and bonding with the players and really liked talking with (Arkansas coach Mike) Anderson,” LeBlanc said. “That was cool.
“I just love how Arkansas plays. I feel like they have a great situation over there for me with what is going on.”
LeBlanc is a four-star prospect ranked the No. 98 player in the country by ESPN.
“I think my biggest assets are my defense and my ability to run the floor,” LeBlanc said. “I still need to work on my offensive game and I trying to expand it.”
LeBlanc had hoped to be joined on the visit by close friend Keyshawn Embery (6-3, 175), but the former Oklahoma City Midwest City standout had to travel to Bradenton, Fla., to report to IMG Academy, where he will play his senior season.
Embery, now scheduled to visit the Razorbacks this upcoming weekend, recently cut his list to a final four of Arkansas, Texas A&M, Arizona State and West Virginia. He eliminated Butler.
Embery, who averaged 26.8 points per game last season, has plans to visit Texas A&M on Sept. 8-10, West Virginia on Sept. 15-17 and Arizona State on Sept. 22-24.
The two have expressed a desire to be college teammates. Arkansas and Texas A&M as the two schools on both of their lists.
“I wish he had been able to make it this weekend, but I am sure he will love it like I did,” LeBlanc said. “I haven’t talked to him since he cut his list down, but I am sure we will be talking soon.”
LeBlanc has one more official visit scheduled at this point, but will also visit LSU.
“On Sept. 8, I am going to Texas A&M,” LeBlanc said. “I am not sure yet when I am going to visit LSU yet. I still have to sit down and talk about that.”
Three of LeBlanc’s final four schools are in the SEC.
“I actually didn’t know that A&M was in the SEC,” LeBlanc said. “I knew LSU and Arkansas were.”
LeBlanc knows there are some who expect he will stay home and play for LSU, who has a new coach, Will Wade.
“There is no pressure,” LeBlanc said. “I like what they are doing over there and I like how serious Coach Wade is taking basketball. But I am going to go the best place for me.”
Texas A&M also has some pull for LeBlanc.
“Texas A&M, I like the coaches and like what they are telling me, but I just have to go over there and see what it is like," he said.
LeBlanc previously announced an announcement date of Nov. 12, which is his birthday, but that is up in the air now, as is whether he will ink a letter-of-intent in the early signing period.
“I am not sure if it is going to be on the 12th anymore,” LeBlanc said. “The process is still the same. It is just going to be the best overall fit for me. It might be in the late period.”