FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas landing four-star power forward Reggie Chaney is a perfect fit according to Henderson, NV., Findlay Prep head coach Paul Washington.
Chaney (6-8, 230) chose Arkansas over Texas A&M, TCU, Wichita State, Oklahoma State and many others on Friday night, told the Arkansas coaches and then announced his decision to the public on Saturday.
He is the newest of six pledges in the Razorbacks’ 2018 recruiting class expected to sign with Arkansas during the early signing period Nov. 8-15.
“He’s a very physical kid,” Washington said. “He is very well-rounded. He can take it off the rim, dribble, pass and shoot the ball. He’s also very athletic and has a high basketball IQ.
“We utilize him at the 4, sometimes at the 3. He’s got a great body. He’s built like an NFL tight end. He’s very physical and I know that is what the Razorbacks are looking for.”
Chaney previously lived in Tulsa, Okla., and Frisco, Texas, before making the decision to spend his final two years at Findlay Prep.
He averaged 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals and a block a game last season for the 33-4 Pilots.
Chaney’s visit to Arkansas on Sept. 15-17 was his first of five official trips he took. He visited the Razorbacks along with fellow Arkansas pledge Jordan Phillips (6-7, 210) of Arlington, Texas, Grace Prep.
Those two join IMG Acadmey guard Keyshawn Embery (6-4, 195) and three in-state prospects - Little Rock Parkview forward Ethan Henderson (6-9, 190), Fort Smith guard Isaiah Joe (6-4, 170) and Jonesboro guard Desi Sills (6-1, 180) as pledges expected to sign with Arkansas during the early signing period of Nov. 8-15.
That group is ranked in the top 20 nationally and is the No. 2 class in the SEC behind LSU per 24/7’s composite rankings of the four major recruiting services.
Washington believes that Findlay Prep has everything a school needs to get a prospect ready for college.
“When you come to Findley Prep you are going to work out every day,” Washington said. “We have personal training, you workout with the team and then you come back at night and put up shots. We have a certain amount of shots you have to make each week.
“It’s really like a college program.”
Washington feels like the school owes that to the players who give up a lot to play for Findlay.
“We play a tough schedule because if you are going to leave your mom and dad and your friends to come here you are not going to come out here and play a cupcake schedule,” Washington said. “We will play anybody anywhere to get ready to go to Dick’s National Tournament at the end of the season.”
Washington also likes where the school is located.
“A lot of people think we are in Las Vegas, but we are not and we are nowhere near The Strip,” Washington said. “We are just out here getting better and don’t really do much, but stay around here.”
Chaney and Findlay Prep will play Holly Springs, Miss, in Memphis on Nov. 24.
“Our goal is to be No. 1 in the country so we will go on the road and play anybody in any environment because it will help our team.
“We are playing four of the top six teams in the country.”