Maumelle pitcher flips commitment from Oklahoma to Arkansas

Arkansas ball and glove sits on the field Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, during practice at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas received a commitment over the weekend from an in-state pitcher who previously was committed to Oklahoma.

Right-hander Connor McCullough committed to the Razorbacks on Saturday, one week after taking a visit to Fayetteville. McCullough (6-1, 180 pounds) is a junior at Maumelle High School outside of Little Rock.

"I did love OU and the coaches, but it's been a lifelong dream of mine to play for the Hogs," McCullough said. "I figured why not at least give them a chance and go up there and visit, and see what they had to say. I thought I would regret not giving them a chance.

In-State Baseball Commits

2018

Wade Beasley, RHP, Horatio

Hank Hannah, LHP, Little Rock Catholic

Evan Hiatt, LHP, Little Rock Catholic

Tyler Johnson, 1B, Bentonville

Connor McCullough, RHP, Maumelle

Connor Noland, RHP, Greenwood

Andrew Stanley, C, Searcy

2019

Blake Adams, RHP, Springdale Har-Ber

Cason Tollett, C, Little Rock Christian

"I fell in love with Arkansas and everything up there."

McCullough committed to Oklahoma in 2015, the summer before his sophomore year of high school. His lead recruiter for the Sooners - pitching coach Jamie Pinzino - left Oklahoma for a similar position at Virginia Tech last July, which opened the door for the Razorbacks.

PrepBaseballReport.com rates McCullough the seventh-best prospect in the state for the class of 2018. He said his fastball has touched 91 mph. He also throws a change-up and a curveball, and is developing a slider.

McCullough is the fifth pitcher from in-state to commit to the Razorbacks in the class of 2018. Other commits are right-handers Connor Noland of Greenwood and Wade Beasley of Horatio, and left-handers Evan Hiatt and Hank Hannah of Little Rock Catholic.

There are seven pitchers from the 2018 class in Arkansas who are committed to SEC West programs. Right-hander Jaden Hill of Ashdown is committed to LSU and left-hander Kaleb Hill of Watson Chapel is committed to Ole Miss.

Verbal commitments are non-binding.