Arkansas’ basketball program seems to be strongly in the mix for a trio of 5-star prospects, the final one of which took his official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.
Duncanville, Texas, senior guard Anthony Black (6-7, 185), is ranked 19th nationally by 247Sports, 26th by ESPN and 34th by Rivals.
All three of those rankings, which combined to land him at 25th in 247 Sports' composite rankings, rose after a stellar spring and summer on the AAU circuit.
“It feels good, just knowing that I have been working hard the last couple of years and it is finally getting recognized,” Black said. “But I still need to work on my game a lot, keep my dribble tight and my jump shooting, make everything a strength. There is always room to improve.”
Arkansas remains in the mix for 5-star prospects Nick Smith, Jr. (6-5, 180), of North Little Rock, and Jordan Walsh (6-7, 200) of Branson (Mo.) Link Year, a pair who are ESPN’s sixth- and seventh-rated prospects in the 2022 class, respectively.
Walsh took his official visit to Arkansas in June and Smith on Sept. 10-12.
Black sees a Razorback coaching staff headed up by Eric Musselman that has substantial NBA experience.
“It’s great because they have contacts with coaches in the NBA, know what it take to get there and they are sending players like me there,” Black said. “Having that type of background and knowledge is good because they know what it takes to get you there.”
He was impressed with Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena and basketball practice facility.
“It looks like it is all brand new,” Black said. “I guess the SEC has a lot of money. It’s crazy.”
Black was both a football and basketball star last season at Coppell, the home of Arkansas support staffer Hays Myers, and was offered by the Razorbacks and several others in both sports.
He averaged 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 steals per game on the court last season and was the District 6-6A MVP. Black also caught 45 passes for 673 yards and 8 touchdowns for Coppell as a junior before deciding to focus on basketball his senior year.
He enjoyed seeing Arkansas’ high-energy practice.
“They practice hard and Muss gets after it hard,” Black said. “They have a great work ethic. They have so many talented players, too. That’s good to see.”
Black has officially visited Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma State and Georgia, and plans to visit TCU and Gonzaga before making a decision.
Black, whose father Terry played at Baylor, also has offers from Duke, Memphis, Baylor and other schools.
The trip to Arkansas gave Black a clearer picture of what the Razorbacks have to offer.
“Just getting to meet everybody, especially the staff and the players and getting to hang out with them was a big highlight and my favorite part,” Black said. “This visit definitely helped Arkansas. I always knew they were a good program, but now I know they are a great program and I have a much better feel for the staff and what they are all about.”
Duncanville, which will be gunning for a third straight state title, also features 5-star junior power forward Ray Holland and 2022 prospect Ashton Hardaway, the son of former NBA player and current Memphis coach Penny Hardaway.
Black was hosted by Arkansas' Jaxson Robinson and Cade Arbogast, a 6-3, 170-pound sophomore walk-on who played his freshman season at Oregon and last season at Lane Community College in Oregon.
“I kind of knew Jaxson before, so I kind of hung with him the most,” Black said. “I had fun, learned a lot and am excited about what I saw. Arkansas has a great future ahead of it.”