FAYETTEVILLE -- In excess of 500 college basketball players have entered the transfer portal since the season ended, according to The Associated Press.
University of Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman and his staff contacted more than 30 players in the portal, and on Wednesday 6-6 point guard Jalen Tate and 6-9 forward Vance Jackson signed with the Razorbacks.
Tate, from Northern Kentucky, and Jackson, from New Mexico, are senior graduate transfers and will be eligible immediately for the 2020-21 season.
ESPN ranked Tate No. 15 and Jackson No. 32 among players in the transfer portal.
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"We reached out to anybody that we thought was an SEC roster caliber player," Musselman said. "We kind of divide things up. Is he a roster level player? Is he a rotation type player? Is he a starter? Is he a top two or three?"
So where do Tate and Jackson fit into those categories for Arkansas?
"We certainly feel that they are talented and guys that could both start, for sure," Musselman said. "Having said that, everything is done in training camp and jobs are won when guys compete against each other. But both those guys have been starters throughout their careers."
Tate missed 10 games this season -- including Arkansas' 66-60 victory over the Norse in Walton Arena -- because of broken left hand, but he was the Horizon League defensive player of the year, a third-team all-conference pick and averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals in 22 games as a junior in helping the Norse to a 23-9 record.
In each of Tate's three seasons at Northern Kentucky, he was named to the Horizon League's All-Defensive Team.
Musselman said he believes Tate can help fill the void left by the loss of Jimmy Whitt, a graduate transfer for the Razorbacks this season who started every game and was their top defender.
"Losing Jimmy Whitt's ability to guard the best player on the other team, whether it's a 1, 2 or 3, Jalen now allows us to do that," Musselman said. "He's a very good rebounder for his position.
"I think he also gives us great flexibility, just as Jimmy Whitt did, and just like [twins] Caleb and Cody Martin did for us at Nevada."
Musselman's Nevada team was 14-0 and ranked No. 6 when the Wolf Pack played at New Mexico on Jan. 5, 2019.
Jackson had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals in 28 minutes off the bench to help the Lobos beat Nevada 85-58.
"Vance stepped up against a ranked team and dominated the game," Musselman said. "When he verbally committed, I would say seven to eight of the guys off the Nevada team texted me, because our guys had tremendous respect for him."
Jackson averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 28 games for the 19-14 Lobos as a junior and hit 50 of 146 three-pointers. He missed five games because of a knee injury.
In three seasons -- one at Connecticut and two at New Mexico -- Jackson has hit 157 of 444 (35.3%) three-pointers.
"Versatility is the first thing that comes to mind with Vance," Musselman said. "He can play the 4, he can play the 3, he can play the 5, he can play the 2.
"He has the ability offensively and defensively to really play four positions on the floor. You're talking about a player who's made 157 three-balls in his college career. He's capable of a double-double on any given night."
The Razorbacks now have four signees for next season with Tate and Jackson and Arkansas high schools seniors Davonte Davis and Jaylin Williams. Davis, a 6-4 guard from Jacksonville, signed in November and Williams, a 6-9 center from Fort Smith Northside signed Wednesday.
Musselman said Tate and Jackson got their paperwork back to Arkansas early Wednesday.
"They've been asking for their paperwork for several days and had to wait until this morning to get it," Musselman said. "They were excited to sign. They want to be here.
"They've handled everything with great professionalism and incredible maturity. They've shown leadership throughout the process on how they deal with us.
"They pick up the phone every time we call them. Both guys return every text message. We've had in-depth conversations about not only basketball, but life as well."
Tate and Jackson both have excelled in conference tournament play.
This season, Tate combined for 37 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in victories over Wisconsin-Green Bay and Illinois-Chicago to lead Northern Kentucky to the Horizon League Tournament title.
Last season, Jackson had 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a victory over Wyoming and 25 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in a loss to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas. He became the first player in the event's 20-year history to be voted all-tournament by the media playing for a team that didn't advance to at least the semifinals.
That performance earned Jackson the nickname "Vegas Vance."
Jackson had another strong showing in the Mountain West Tournament this year with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists in a victory over San Jose State and 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in a loss to Utah State.
Sports on 04/16/2020