FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks guard Khalil Garland, a 6-5 freshman from Little Rock Parkview, will redshirt this season Coach Mike Anderson said on Thursday.
Garland has not been medically cleared to play because of an undisclosed medical condition.
“Given the amount of time he has missed already, I think that’s going to be best for him,” Anderson said of the decision to redshirt Garland. “He can go ahead and really get down with school.”
Anderson said he’s “very optimistic” Garland will be able to play next season. He has been practicing on a limited basis, but isn’t allowed to scrimmage or have contact.
“He’s been good,” Anderson said. “I think the biggest relief came to him when he could actually get out on the floor and do some things with us.
“Not necessarily the scrimmaging part of it, but just to be able to get out there. As long as he’s with these guys, he’s OK.”
Senior guard Anton Beard said the Razorbacks have stayed positive with Garland to keep his spirits up.
“He’s one of the most talkative guys we’ve got, even though he’s not playing,” Beard said. “He’s always energetic. He’s happy to be here and we’re happy for him.
“We just tell him to be patient, his time is coming.”
Good bloodlines
Troy guard Wesley Person Jr., a 6-3 senior guard from Brantley, Ala., is averaging a team-high 20.3 points going into Saturday night’s game against the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He’s the son of Wesley Person, the former Auburn star who scored 2,066 points for the Tigers and played 11 seasons in the NBA with Phoenix, Cleveland, Memphis, Portland, Miami and Denver.
Person Jr. is shooting 49.6 percent from the field (64 of 129), including 46.4 percent on three-pointers (39 of 84). He has hit 85.7 percent (36 of 42) of his free throws.
“As you’d expect with the name ‘Person,’ he can really shoot it,” Troy Coach Phil Cunningham said. ” He was basically a spot-up shooter when he got here, but he’s become a lot more versatile player now.
“He continued to expand his game. He can score in the paint now. He can score off the dribble. He’s got a good mid-range game. He’s just a really efficient scorer.”
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said Person will have the Razorbacks’ full attention.
“People really game plan for him, plus they always put their best perimeter defender on him,” Cunningham said. “We’ve seen point guards on him, shooting guards, small forwards. But he’s found a way to continue to score.
“He’s a guy that can make a contested shot, and he’s confident and he’s tough. We also give him the green light, and I think that always helps a shooter.”
Cunningham said Person Jr. has handled having a famous name well.
“He’s been terrific with it,” Cunningham said. “From the day he got here he’s had a very mature approach to everything he’s done.
“He’s just one of those guys that never changes. He’s a coach’s dream, because you know what you’re going to get day in and day out. He’s going to give you the best attitude and effort he can every single day, and he rubs off on his teammates.”
Anderson speaking
Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson will speak today at the Downtown Tipoff Club at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.
Lunch will start at 11:45 a.m. and the program is scheduled to conclude at 1 p.m. The luncheon cost is $25 per person.
Varnado out
Troy forward Jordan Varnado, a 6-6 junior averaging 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds, won’t play against Arkansas because of a stress fracture in his foot, Coach Phil Cunningham said.
Varnado played in six games this season before being sidelined. Saturday night will be the fifth consecutive game he has missed. Cunningham said he’s hopeful Jarnado will be back in about two more weeks.