Several Arkansas basketball recruiting targets will spend this week trying to get to next week’s state championship games in Hot Springs, but only one has a chance to win a third crown in as many years.
Magnolia junior guard Derrian Ford (6-4, 195) and his Panthers (21-0) will be riding a 52-game winning streak when they take the court Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Class 4A state tournament at Morrilton.
Magnolia will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between Southside and Berryville.
“We have been working very hard all season and we are determined to play our best when we go to the state tournament,” Ford said. “We will be ready and I will lead the team to the best of my ability.”
A possible Saturday 1 p.m. semifinal against host Morrilton (18-6) and Razorbacks junior pledge Joseph Pinion (6-6, 180) looms if both teams win their first game.
“There will be some great teams there that we play and we know they will give us their best shot,” Ford said. “This will be a great experience and I will look forward to competing against these teams. We thank God for letting us make it this far and we are taking it a game at a time.”
Magnolia won the 2019 title by downing Little Rock Mills 78-76. The teams shared the championship in 2020 when the covid-19 pandemic canceled the finals game.
Magnolia beat Watson Chapel 63-48 on Saturday to take the 4A-South regional championship, and Ford scored 21 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Ford, ranked 44th nationally by 247 Sports' composite rankings, has offers from Arkansas, Kansas, Baylor, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and others.
He has been impressed with the 11-game SEC win streak the No. 8 Razorbacks (21-5, 13-4 SEC) went on to close the regular season.
“Arkansas is playing great and I love watching them play,” Ford said. “They are clicking and have a winning mentality."
Morrilton will open play Thursday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday’s Monticello/Brookland game.
The Devil Dogs beat Farmington 53-47 Saturday to win a regional title. Pinion had 13 points, 4 steals, 3 assists and 1 block in the win.
Pinion is ranked 147th nationally by 247 Sports and chose the Razorbacks over Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, TCU, Creighton, DePaul and Murray State among others.
Little Rock Mills (22-4), led by Arkansas junior target Javion Guy-King (6-6, 200), is on the other side of the bracket and plays Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Mills topped Blytheville 54-52 on Saturday to take the 4A-East regional top seed.
Guy-King has offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma State, ORU and Arkansas State, and he has watched intently the success of Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman’s program.
“I’ve been watching all the games I can because Coach Muss has it fun to watch, honestly,” Guy-King said. “I love the way they play together and the coaching style.
“I think they can go very deep in the (SEC) tournament and also win it all if they keep getting better and play the way they’re playing.”
Sylvan Hills junior guard Nick Smith and his Bears play West Memphis on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Class 5A state tournament at Hot Springs.
Smith, ranked 25th in the country in the 2022 class by 247 Sports, has offers from Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Baylor, Georgetown, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Texas and is also drawing interest from Kentucky and others.
Former Razorbacks basketball star and assistant coach Scotty Thurman led his Little Rock Parkview squad to a top seed in the Class 5A tournament.
The Patriots whipped Green County Tech 80-38 on Monday in their tournament opener and will face Lake Hamilton or Vilonia on Friday at 1 p.m.
Arkansas has also offered Little Rock Christian junior Creed Williamson (6-8, 225) and sophomore Layden Blocker (6-1, 170), but the Lions finished 13-10 and did not make the Class 5A state tournament.
The 6A tournament is being held at Fayetteville High and features a trio of prospects with Razorbacks offers.
Little Rock Central sophomore Bryson Warren (6-2, 180) and freshman Annor Boateng (6-5, 200) will see their first action Thursday at 1 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday’s game between Bentonville West and Conway.
Warren averaged 27 points in conference games and has offers from Arkansas, Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Ole Miss, St. John’s, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and TCU.
North Little Rock and center Kel’el Ware (7-0, 210) will play Friday at 7 p.m. with a game against the victor of Tuesday’s Rogers/Little Rock Catholic contest.
Ware, ranked 32nd nationally by 247 Sports, has an offer sheet that includes Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Auburn, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, TCU and Tulsa.
The state’s top two girls players will both be in action Thursday in Fayetteville, too.
Arkansas signee Jersey Wolfenbarger (6-6) and Fort Northside will play at 10 a.m. against Tuesday’s Bryant/Springdale winner.
Wolfenbarger is one of five finalists for the Naismith high school girls basketball player of the year award. Baylor signee Maryam Dauda (6-4) and Bentonville will play Thursday at 4 p.m. against either North Little Rock or Bentonville West.
The two McDonald’s All-Americans would face each other Saturday at 10 a.m. if both teams win their opening games.