LITTLE ROCK — Another one of the state’s top young basketball players was on display this weekend at Real Deal in the Rock and left with a championship trophy.
Sylvan Hills freshman Jalen Ricks (6-5, 170) was one of the driving forces behind the Joe Johnson Arkansas Hawks’ 15-and-under team going undefeated in the event.
Ricks averaged around 16 points this weekend while the Hawks went 6-0.
“I think the team and I are going to have a great spring and summer,” Ricks said. “We have a lot of talent and we love playing together."
The Hawks downed Texas Elite 53-38 in the championship game, won by at least 15 points in each game and started off the event by winning 90-21 and 62-18.
The talented group featuring 2021 prospects jumped out to a 26-0 lead in game one.
Little Rock Mills freshman Madison Peaster (6-1), Fort Smith Northside forward Jaylin Williams (6-9, 215) and Jacksonville freshman and Real Deal 15-and-under MVP Ryan Maxwell (6-5) are among three other standouts on the squad and some of the 10 or so Division I prospects in the 2020 and 2021 classes in Arkansas.
“We have a lot of guys that do a lot of different things and you can’t really stop one of us and not have the other guys hurt you,” Ricks said.
Sylvan Hills only returned one starter and was 6-22 overall and 0-8 in conference play in a 2017-2018 season in which seven members of the team were freshmen or sophomores after seven seniors graduated.
“I played varsity as a ninth grader and we were kind of shaky because we were so young, but it was able to give our players some good experience and next year we should be a lot better.”
Ricks, who averaged 9.4 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Bears this season, certainly showed off his versatility and talent while playing all five positions for the Bears this season.
“I am working on getting bigger and just rounding out my game better,” Ricks said.
While early in his career, Ricks is already getting recruiting attention.
“I have got a lot of NAIA and Division II schools looking at me right now, but I am hoping this summer really opens a lot of doors for me,” he said.