FAYETTEVILLE — Little Rock Central forward Annor Boateng (6-5, 200 pounds) will watch Wednesday’s NBA Draft with a wishful eye that one day he might be in a position to hear his named called.
But it will be awhile before that happens. Boateng is just a freshman this season for the defending Class 6A state co-champion Tigers, although a highly celebrated player who oozes potential.
“He has the potential to be amazing,” Little Rock Central coach Brian Ross said. “You just look at him and smile about how he looks physically out there, realize how young he is and know he is just scratching the surface. There’s a reason all these college coaches are so excited about him.”
Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Buff offered Boateng, and Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have reached out to him after he was named co-MVP of the All-South Pangos Frosh/Soph Camp in Duncanville, Texas, in early October.
Boateng, who has a 33-inch vertical leap, had 12 points and six rebounds in his Black team’s 103-95 loss to White in the Crop Top 30 game of an event that featured 219 campers from 13 states.
“That really opened up a lot of things for me,” Boateng said. “I am just trying to play as hard as I can every game and get better so I can realize my dream one of these days. But first, it’s just about being a good teammate and helping us win as many games as I can.”
Boateng, who is trying to pattern his game after his favorite NBA player, Kevin Durant, was excited to get an offer from Arkansas coach Eric Musselman.
“I was very blessed to get that offer,” Boateng said. “Coach Musselman is a really good guy and very open about how much he likes me. He also greeted my family very warmly and that means a lot to me. It is overall a very welcoming staff.”
Joe Johnson Hawks coach Bill Ingram, who was on hand to watch Little Rock Central beat host Bentonville 64-48 in a benefit game Saturday, raves about Boateng, who was in middle school last season.
“Boateng may be the next great one,” Ingram said. “He may be a top-five guy nationally before it is all over with. He is a different cat at the age of 14. He may be the one. I have seen enough basketball and I have heard enough guys that are not from here that have seen him and just love him.
“He is phenomenal and he has got the whole package. He has long arms, he has no hair on his face or his legs, which is normally a sign that he is still growing. That is the first thing you look for.
“He has a great frame, is a phenomenal athlete already, his skill is already pretty good and I don’t know if the kid has ever made a 'B' in his life. He takes all advanced classes, and he loves the game and is a gym rat.”
Little Rock Central, which also features Arkansas sophomore guard recruiting target Bryson Warren, will try to move to 2-0 Tuesday with a game at Sylvan Hills. Nick Smith, a junior who has been offered by the Razorbacks, plays at Sylvan Hills.
Little Rock Central downed Jacksonville 67-62 in its season opener with Warren scoring a game-high 32 points and Boateng adding 9 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.
“He has played real good for a freshman and is leading our team in rebounds, I believe,” Warren said. “That is pretty big. He is big, strong and athletic and really hustles. He is just going to keep getting better playing with us and being coached by Coach Ross.”
Little Rock Central also returns a trio of starters in Corey Camper, Kyler Hudson and Cody Robinson, while adding Warren, Boateng and Baptist Prep transfer Hudson Likens, who had 14 points against Bentonville.
"I think our team is playing really well and we are really sharing the ball,” Boateng said. "All of us can score.”
Boateng is thrilled to be playing alongside Warren and the others.
“Bryson can score and makes great decisions, he plays defense and he is always open,” Boateng said. “He is open minded in the way that he plays and can do so many things from so many spots on the floor.”