FAYETTEVILLE — The Mike Conley Challenge - which will feature three Arkansas signees - is moving to Memphis.
The event, sponsored by the Memphis Grizzlies point guard and pitting the best players from Arkansas and Memphis ay, had previously been held in Little Rock and will be played this season at Memphis University High School on April 8 according to founder Bill Ingram.
“Mike Conley wanted to be move involved and with us being in Arkansas and him in Memphis he wanted to have it in Memphis during a weekend when he has a game there,” Ingram said.
“He’s going to have them at a shoot around and they’ll go to a game and then he will be around them Saturday and talk to them about things they need to do in college and then go to the game Saturday night.”
The Arkansas team will be led by Razorback signees Daniel Gafford (6-11, 223) of El Dorado, Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) of Little Rock Parkview and Darious Hall (6-7, 210) of Little Rock Mills.
“I think all three of them have gotten better and will make an impact right away for Arkansas,” Ingram said. “All three of them bring different things to the table.
“I think Daniel Gafford will have the biggest impact right away because he will be ready to have take Moses’ place right away,” Ingram said. “He is already there defensively and rebounding and is a better athlete than Moses is.
“He is also coming along with his post moves and he tries to dunk on everybody’s head as much as he can.
“Day Day (Hall) I think will step in and fill that Manny Watkins role, but obviously is much more athletic and Khalil will set into that guard rotation at the one and the two.
The group will have their first practice together Friday night at P.A.R.K at 6 p.m. as the Real Deal in the Rock opens.
The Arkansas roster will also include El Dorado guard and Itawamba, Miss., Community College signee Czar Perry (6-1), Arkansas State signee Marquis Eaton (6-3) of Jonesboro, UALR signee Kris Bankston (6-8) and the Southwest Christian Academy duo of Avery Benson (6-4) and Gabe Osabuohien (6-8).