Fortson

Freshman point guard Courtney Fortson, Arkansas coach John Pelphrey confirmed Tuesday, will debut and start for the Razorbacks in Thursday’s 7 p. m. exhibition game against Dillard University at Walton Arena.

For undisclosed disciplinary reasons, Pelphrey withheld Fortson from playing in the Oct. 24 Red-White intrasquad game and Arkansas’ 103-58 exhibition victory Monday night over Campbellsville. Fortson has practiced throughout the preseason despite sitting out the intrasquad game and the first of the two exhibition games before the Nov. 14 season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana.

HILL IN NBA Pelphrey was elated to learn Steven Hill, the 7-foot shot-blocking center from Branson, Mo., for Pelphrey as a Razorback senior last year, now joins fellow former Razorback teammate Sonny Weems in the NBA. Deleted in the final round of NBA cuts by the Portland Trailblazers, Hill has signed on with the Oklahoma City Thunder, formerly the Seattle Sonics.

“ I’m very happy for him, ” Pelphrey said. “ I talked to him when he was leaving Portland and encouraged him. I told him it’s not like college where you pick where you want to go to school. You go where they tell you to go. If you stay around long enough, it probably won’t be the last time it happens to you. He was disappointed, but he had a great attitude and we knew this day would come where somebody is going to get him. Now this day has come and he is very thankful for the opportunity and our coaching staff and players, and I’m sure the Razorback fans, are very excited for what it could mean for him. ”

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The Razorbacks now have four alums in the NBA. They include West Memphis native Weems, with the Denver Nuggets, and Hill.

Ronnie Brewer, the Fayetteville High School graduate in his third year with the Utah Jazz after playing three years for Heath, is also in the NBA along with Little Rock’s Joe Johnson, the star of the Atlanta Hawks and a Razorback for three years under former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson.