FAYETTEVILLE — Several future Razorback basketball players will begin state tournament action with one hoping to combine a perfect season with a state title.
Jonesboro junior Desi Sills (6-1, 180) - one of four Arkansas 2018 commits - and his team take a 29-0 record into Friday’s 5:30 p.m. game in the Class 6A state tournament in Lake Hamilton.
“We have to get in practice this week and keep getting better because it all is right there in front of us,” Sills said Sunday. “We have to stay hungry and finish this off. It won’t be easy so we have to keep working.”
The Hurricane forced 20 turnovers Saturday night while taking down West Memphis 71-55 the Class 6A-East Conference Tournament in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State point guard signee Marquis Eaton had 26 points - going 17-of-18 from the free throw line - with Sills adding 15 points.
The Hurricane has a first-round bye in this week’s tournament. It needs three more wins for the perfect season and could cap that off next week in Hot Springs, where the finals are played.
“We have done a great job this season of making plays when we needed to and doing it as a team,” Sills said. “It’s been a team effort.”
West Memphis freshman Chris Moore (6-6, 200) - whose Blue Devils (21-10) will play Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in Lake Hamilton - had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
“He’s a young guy, but has a lot of talent and is really developing,” Sills said. “I have a lot of respect for his game and he is just going to keep getting better and better.”
The 6A Tournament will also feature Arkansas 2017 center signee Daniel Gafford (6-11, 223) of El Dorado (26-4), which opens action Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
“El Dorado has to be one of the favorites with Daniel and some other great players,” Sills said. “He is a great player that is very aggressive and I am looking forward to playing with him at Arkansas.”
Sills loves what he is seeing out of his future college team in Arkansas (22-7, 11-5), a team that has won five straight games.
“I haven't got to see a lot of the games live because we always seem to be busy playing at the same, but I know they are playing well,” Sills said. “I talk to (Arkansas head) Coach (Mike) Anderson and (Razorback assistant) Coach (Melvin) Watkins a lot and I know they are happy about the way the team is playing, but also want to finish it off strong like we do.”
The Class 5A state tournament in Magnolia will have a couple of Arkansas signees in Little Rock Parkview guard Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) and Little Rock Mills forward Darious Hall (6-7, 210).
Little Rock Parkview (25-5) with Razorback 2018 commit Ethan Henderson (6-9, 190), opens action Tuesday at 2:30 with a game against Watson Chapel.
Mills (27-2) plays host Magnolia Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Smith Northside shooting guard Isaiah Joe (6-4, 180) - another Razorback 2018 commit whose team is 17-7 this season - will be playing in the Class 7A Tournament in Van Buren with his first game set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. The Case 4A state tournament in Nashville will have Baptist Prep (28-4) and its star duo of junior center Connor Vanover (7-3, 220) and sophomore point guard Isaac McBride (6-1, 180).
Baptist Prep will open action Friday at 5:30 p.m.