Junior forward Josh Leblanc had two scholarship offers while playing in Real Deal in the Rock basketball tournament in Little Rock March 31-April 2. He has since accumulated 16 others, including one from Arkansas Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson.
He said receiving the offer Monday was special because of his relationship with University of Arkansas, Fayetteville assistant Scotty Thurman.
"It was [a] blessing," Leblanc said. "Any offer is a great feeling, but when you're talking to someone and they've been recruiting you, it's feels even better to know they offered you."
Leblanc, 6-7, 210 pounds, of Baton Rouge Madison Prep Academy played for Louisiana Elite during Real Deal in the Rock and had scholarship offers from Texas A&M, and Alabama-Birmingham.
An ESPN 4-star prospect, Leblanc is averaging 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.3 blocked shots while shooting 58 percent from the field in the Under Armour Association league play.
Leblanc and Louisiana Elite played in Indianapolis over the weekend. He scored 16, 24, 25 and 24 points with Thurman at court side.
"He told me he liked how my game was developing and he loved what he saw," Leblanc said. "I noticed him at the second game."
He's also added offers from South Florida, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Georgetown, Houston, St. John's among others during the two evaluation weekends on April 21-23 and 28-30.
"I was just going out and competing and when you're working for something, it just feels good to get the offers," Leblanc said.
He spoke with Anderson on Monday and has plans to visit Fayetteville, possibly in the spring.
He's excellent in the classroom, too. He has a 4.0 grade-point average and has plans to major in business.
Leblanc may play forward, but has the length that allows him to play much bigger because of having 7-foot wingspan.
"It helps, if you get blown by, you can recover faster," Leblanc said.
Another Arkansas offer
Highly recruited junior power forward Ian Steere also added an offer from Arkansas on Monday.
Steere, 6-9, 250 pounds of High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian has more than 20 other scholarship offers from schools like Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida State and Georgia.
He appreciated the offer from the Hogs.
"It's a great opportunity," Steere said. "They're in a really good conference- being in the SEC. I'm blessed they're able to put that kind of trust in me to offer me a scholarship to a school like that."
Steere is averaging 10.75 points, 5.6 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field for Team Charlotte in the Under Armour Association league play.
He's been communicating with assistant Scotty Thurman, but has recently started talking to Coach Mike Anderson.
"We developed a relationship prior to him seeing me in the first session of the Under Armour in New York," Steere said "We developed a relationship probably two weeks before that and then he came to see me play and he liked what he saw so he brought Coach Anderson to see me in Indianapolis and they liked what they saw so they're confident enough to offer me a scholarship."
Style of play is Steere's big attraction to the Razorback program.
"They play a really good brand of basketball," Steere said. "They're fast. They also can slow it down and they give it to their bigs when they're able to."
Anderson likes Steere's ability and the way he plays the game.
"He likes the effort I give on the offensive and defensive end," Steere said. "He likes my motor. He likes what I can do when I actually catch the ball with my moves and he also likes my rebounding."
Steere is serious about academics and has a 3.8 grade-point average. He's considering majoring in business. He said Thurman and Anderson have talked up the nationally acclaimed Sam M. Walton College of Business.
"They just said it's really strong- a rigorous business program and that's what I want," Steere said. "I don't want to take the easy way out in college. I also want the academics part of a college experience. I don't want to miss out on that because it's going to prepare me for life after basketball."
Steere is mindful of youth and desires to a good role model.
"Well I always try and provide the best example for kids and try to be a sort of mentor and friend for them," Steere said. "Not only do I want to be a great basketball player to them, but a great friend too."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 05/05/2017