FAYETTEVILLE — Among the 19,200 fans announced for Arkansas’ 69-59 win over Texas A&M were some 40 former players and at least one future one.
Oak Hill Academy (Va.) standout guard Khalen “KK” Robinson (6-1, 170 pounds) took in his future team’s win at Bud Walton Arena in its SEC opener. Robinson, who is from Bryant, is committed to the Razorbacks.
“It was electric in here and everybody feeds off of each other both on the court and off the court,” Robinson said. “I love it and can’t wait to be out there.”
Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe led the way with 17 points each, Desi Sills added 13 and Jimmy Whitt 12.
Joe scored 11 of his 17 in the final nine minutes of the game, including a 3-pointer with 1:41 left that was the dagger and pushed his team ahead 69-59.
“They played really hard and I liked that about them,” Robinson said. “Isaiah Joe made a lot of big shots in the second half. I really liked watching them play.”
He got to watch Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman work up close.
“He gives the players a lot of freedom out on the floor and Coach Musselman has a lot of energy,” Robinson said. “I just can’t wait to get out there with them.”
Robinson, who committed to Arkansas over Kansas on Thanksgiving Day and will ink his national letter of intent during the spring signing period, is part of a 2020 class that is ranked fifth nationally by ESPN.
He joins Fort Smith Northside big man Jaylin Williams (6-10, 235), former North Little Rock and current Montverde, Fla., Academy swingman Moses Moody (6-6, 190) and Jacksonville guard Davonte Davis (6-4, 175) as four-star prospects either signed or pledged to Arkansas.
The only senior that played significant time on Saturday was Adrio Bailey and Arkansas also has California transfer Connor Vanover (7-3, 230) and Jacksonville transfer JD Noate (6-2, 180) sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
“We are looking forward to coming in here with these guys and winning a national championship,” Robinson said. “We (the 2020 recruits) talk a lot, we have a group chat, what it is going take to be able to win a national championship and everybody says just putting in the hard work.”
He was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps team after a junior season in which he averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game and led Bryant to the Class 6A state title game last season.
Robinson was home for the holidays after Oak Hill, ranked 17th nationally by USA Today, went 21-1 during his first semester of action this season.
He is getting the chance to play for legendary Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith and glad he made the move to play there his senior season.
“It is a blessing,” Robinson said. “He has had a lot of point guards come through like (NBA player) Rajon Rondo and (North Carolina freshman) Cole Anthony and him giving me advice on what they did and being able to work under him is just a blessing.”
Robinson is happy with some aspects of his play this season, but wants to improve in one area.
“I think I am playing OK right now, but I want to get better at just scoring the ball,” Robinson said. “I have been handling the ball well and running the team, but I want to be able score the ball more next semester and show them what I have.”
Former Sylvan Hills star Jalen Ricks (6-4, 170), who has an Arkansas offer, is a junior at Oak Hill.
“When he gets in the game, he has been playing really well and gives us a lot of energy,” Robinson said. “He can knock down big shots when he gets the ball. He is playing really well.”
Oak Hill’s only loss this season was a 76-74 neutral site one to Lincolnton, N.C., Combine Academy on Nov. 8, a loss they avenged on with a convincing 83-62 home win on Dec. 11.
Robinson and his teammates return to action Friday when they meet Cumberland Bishop Walsh of Maryland at the Rock the Ribbon Classic in Lexington, Va.
The goal is to be one of the eight teams that are selected to play in the Geico National High School Tournament in New York in early April.
“We have just been trying to keep our ranking up high,” Robinson said. “We had one loss at the beginning of the season that brought us down, but we are just trying to get our ranking back up high so we can play in the Geico at the end of the season.”