FAYETTEVILLE -- Redshirt freshman guard Khalil Garland still hasn't been medically cleared to play basketball for the University of Arkansas.
Garland has practiced on a limited basis since arriving at Arkansas last year because of an undisclosed medical condition.
"Khalil recently went through a thorough battery of tests, and based on those results, he's not been medically cleared to participate in practice right now," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said Monday when the team began preseason practice. "So at this point and time, he's not practicing."
Anderson previously said numerous times he was hopeful Garland eventually would be cleared to play, but he didn't repeat that Monday when asked whether he's optimistic it will happen.
"That's the statement I just said," Anderson said. "Right now, he's not medically cleared to play."
Garland, 6-5, averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals as as senior at Little Rock Parkview High School during the 2016-17 season. He was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports.com.
Happy birthday
Forward Daniel Gafford, a sophomore from El Dorado, celebrated his 20th birthday Monday.
"I'm 20 going on 30," Gafford said with a smile. "I feel good. It's going to be a good day. Good practice and everything."
Gafford was asked how he felt about practicing twice -- the Razorbacks worked out at 6 a.m. Monday and went again at 4:30 p.m. -- on his birthday.
"I'm doing what I love," he said. "So it's going to do nothing but make my day better."
Gafford, who is 6-11 and has a 7-4 swing span, was projected to be a first-round NBA Draft choice after his freshman season, but he decided to return to Arkansas. He didn't even enter his name into the draft.
"What mainly motivated me is my mom and my dad," Gafford said of putting off the NBA for at least one more season. "I had a long sit-down talk with them, and they basically brought me back down to earth.
"It was crazy as the process was going on. The decision I made is one of the decisions I'm proud of. It's helping me become better as a player and as a person."
Phillips recovering
Jordan Phillips, a 6-7 freshman forward, isn't practicing as he continues to recover from a right knee injury.
Coach Mike Anderson said Phillips needed to have a procedure to repair his meniscus and that he's expected to need about six more weeks before he can practice.
Phillips wore a knee brace Monday.
Sports on 10/02/2018