Rakestraw gets release from UA basketball team

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/63733/

University of Arkansas sophomore-to-be reserve guard Nate Rakestraw has requested and been granted a scholarship release from the Razorbacks. His release enables him to transfer to another NCAA Division I school and receive scholarship aid while redshirting in 2008-09.

Rakestraw’s father, P. D. Rakestraw, confirmed Monday his son met with Arkansas coach John Pelphrey, who received and granted the request.

P. D. Rakestraw said it’s an amiable parting that followed meetings with Pelphrey last Friday and again Monday.

“ Everything is great, ” P. D. Rakestraw said. “ Coach Pelphrey said he’d help him out anyway he could. He’s still going to work out with the team through the end of the school year. Everything is on good terms. Nate understands he’s not coach Pelphrey’s recruit and he think it’s just time for him to go and find another place to play. ”

From Siloam Springs, though he graduated from Har-Ber High in Springdale, Nate Rakestraw was signed by former Arkansas coach Stan Heath during the November 2006 early signing period.

Heath, now the head coach at South Florida, was fired in March of 2007 and replaced by Pelphrey.

Rakestraw was recruited as a shooter by Heath after averaging 19. 4 points at Har-Ber while hitting 41 percent of his 3-pointers.

However, at Arkansas, he only played 10 games in 2007-2008. Other than 10 minutes against Texas-San Antonio and nine minutes against LSU, he never played longer than four minutes.

Rakestraw shot 0 for 7 from the field including six 3-point attempts but did log two rebounds, an assist and a steal. He missed significant time in the preseason and the season’s first eight games while recovering from a surgically repaired broken finger and never figured into the backcourt rotation.

“ The broken finger was a setback this year, ” P. D. Rakestraw said. “ I think Nate felt he could play in the SEC and play for coach Pelphrey, but he understood that missing all the early games hurt him this year. He just wasn’t in coach Pelphrey’s rotation. Nate understands he’s not coach Pelphrey’s recruit and he thinks it’s just time for him to go and find another place to play. ”

What are Nate Rakestraw’s plans ?

“ We’ve got some options, ” P. D. Rakestraw said. “ But nothing for sure right now. We’ve contacted Missouri, Oklahoma. I’m going to call Stan Heath tonight at South Florida. ORU is interested. Missouri State. We’ve got some options out there. ”

Rakestraw would not have to redshirt if he transferred down to a Division II or NAIA school, but must redshirt if he transfers to a Division I school, which is his intention.

“ He’s definitely not wanting to go down, ” P. D. Rakestraw said. “ He’s looking to stay D-I. He knows he has to sit out a year and he’ll use that year to get stronger, faster and work on his game. He’s looking forward to the challenge. ”