The Recruiting Guy

Hundreds of shots help Joe to top

Fort Smith Northside guard Isaiah Joe (10) goes for a basket during the 7A boys state championship basketball game against North Little Rock at Bank of the Ozarks Arena on Satuday, March 11, 2017, in Hot Springs.

It's not a coincidence that Arkansas Razorback basketball guard signee Isaiah Joe is one of the better shooters in the nation.

Joe, 6-4, 170 pounds of Fort Smith Northside shot 44.8 percent from beyond the three-point line as a junior while helping the Grizzlies to the Class 7A state title and averaging 18.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

His strong desire to be the best he can be is backed up by his time in the gym perfecting his shot.

"I try to get up 600 to 800 shots a day and then before a game I try to get around 1,000," Joe said. "When we have home games, I can stay in the gym until the game starts and get up shots and get prepared for the game. Away games, I'll probably go to school early in the morning and get some shots up."

Joe averaged about 14 points and 4 rebounds for the 17-under Arkansas Hawks during the spring and summer.

The Hogs' recruiting class that includes five other signees has Joe optimistic about the future at Arkansas.

"I feel real good about our class," said Joe, who's rated a 4-star recruit by rivals. "There's a lot of diverse talent and I think that brings a lot of good things to the table."


Little Rock Parkview basketball Coach Al Flanigan is entering his 23rd year of coaching and has helped send many of his players to college. Razorback signee Ethan Henderson is one of the latest.

Guard Kahlil Garland played for Flanigan and signed with the Hogs last year. Flanigan once called Garland the best driver to the basket he's coached, but he's changed his mind and now calls Henderson the best at going to the basket.

"I sat here last year and I said Khalil Garland was the best downhill player I've coached," Flanigan said. "Well, I lied. Ethan is coming from the free-throw line attacking that goal now."

ESPN rates Henderson, 6-9, 190 pounds, a 4-star prospect, the No. 23 power forward and No. 88 overall prospect in the nation.

Flanigan, who has won six state titles as a head coach and six more as an assistant, said Henderson has improved since last year.

"Ethan is different, you're going to see a difference when he gets on that hill, offensively and defensively," said Flanigan prior to Henderson's signing on Wednesday. "He walks around with a swagger now. He comes to practice with a swagger, so I think the sky is the limit for him."

Henderson averaged about 15 points and 9 rebounds for the 17-under Arkansas Hawks during the Adidas Gauntlet series during the spring and summer.

When Henderson signed his national letter of intent with the Hogs, he exchanged a Little Rock Parkview Patriot cap for a Razorback cap his mother, Eileen, bought him in the fourth or fifth grade. The purchase foretold his college choice years later.

"I purchased the Razorback cap for Ethan in elementary school," she said. "It's the only cap I bought for him."

Despite being about seven years old, the cap looks new.

"He wears it all the time," Eileen said.

Sports on 11/10/2017