FAYETTEVILLE — Two of Arkansas’ six early period basketball signees got their first chance to battle each other on Saturday in one of the nation’s top prep tournaments.
Reggie Chaney had 17 points and 9 rebounds as his No. 9 Henderson, N.V., Findlay Prep squad downed fellow future Razorback Keyshawn Embery and No. 13 Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy 93-79 at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.V.
Embery (6-4, 198) had eight points and three assists for IMG, who beat Findlay by 13 earlier this season when he was still battling an injury.
“I’ve been back for a few games now, but have been playing limited minutes,” Embery said. “I would say I am about 90 to 95 percent healthy and I will continue to get more minutes each game.
“It feels great to get going and I am just trying to get up to speed.”
Embery, who had five points in a Friday win at the event and is averaging eight points in his three games back, is a big fan of Chaney (6-8, 230), who came into the game averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds and had 11 in his team's Friday victory.
“Reggie is not only a great basketball player, but a great person,” Embery said. “I’ve gotten to know him and I know I am going to be thankful to have him at Arkansas with me. We have got a great group of signees that are going to do great things at Arkansas with the other guys that are already there.”
IMG Academy (11-4) is battling through the loss of five-star power forward Silvio De Sousa (6-9, 240), who chose to enroll at Kansas for the second semester and is practicing with the Jayhawks although he has not yet been cleared to play by the NCAA.
“Our record is not what we want it to be, but that’s in part because of some injuries and we lost a player that was really, really good,” Embery said.
Former Baptist Prep star and Memphis signee Connor Vanover (7-3, 220) had 11 points for Findlay with nine of those coming on 3-pointers late in the third quarter.
Findlay (19-2) has two 7-foot-3 players in Vanover and Oregon signee Bol Bol, the son of former NBA player Manute Bol.
The younger Bol had 26 points to lead the Pilots in the win while Texas Tech signee Kyler Edwards had 25 points.
Arkansas 2019 recruiting target Jahmius Ramsey had 29 points to lead IMG and LSU signee Darius Days had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Ascenders.
Embery says he has watched every Arkansas game available and enjoys watching Arkansas' senior backcourt.
“I love what I am seeing from Daryl and Jaylen and I think they are as good as any backcourt in the country,” Embery said. “They are getting it done in so many ways.”
Embery is hoping he’ll have the chance to pass the ball next season to freshman forward Daniel Gafford (6-11, 235), who is being mentioned in some 2018 mock NBA drafts.
“Daniel is just playing great,” Embery said. “He is so aggressive. I would love for him to be there next year. I hope he sticks around because I know all of our guys want to play with him.”