LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Arkansas point guard target Layden Blocker is just a few weeks away from making his college decision, and he admits he’ll be relieved to get it done.
“The coaches try to recruit you so hard,” Blocker said. “They’re trying to build that relationship and contact and talk to you every day, which is good, but, you know, it started last June and sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming. For me, closing out my last EYBL year, it is kind of a relief.”
Blocker, 6-2, 172 pounds, of Sunrise Academy in Kansas, has officially visited Kansas State and Maryland, and he has official visits set for Fayetteville on June 6-8 and Kansas on June 10-12.
He plans to announce his college decision on July 2, his birthday, after attending the NBPA Top 100 Camp. He knows Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman and his staff will be well organized during this visit.
“They’re going to do a great job,” Blocker said. “I’m going to try and listen to the game plan they have for me if I was to go there, tour the campus and facilities and see what they do on a regular basis.”
Blocker was a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas Preps Underclassman Team as a freshman and sophomore at Little Rock Christian. He attended Sunrise for his junior year.
Like many recruits, Blocker said Musselman and Arkansas' staff recruit him hard.
“They recruit me pretty good,” Blocker said. “Almost the whole coaching staff contacts me here and there.”
Playing for Bradley Beal Elite in the Nike EYBL Session III event in Louisville over Memorial Day weekend, Blocker unofficially averaged 17.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals. He also had 4 blocks.
Blocker shot 57.1% from the floor and 46.1% from three-point range.
His best game came in Sunday’s 62-56 victory over NJ Scholars when he had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Blocker hit 3 of 5 threes, including one to break a 56-56 tie as the shot clock expired.
ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi was sitting court side.
Blocker, who has made two unofficial visits to Arkansas, is a high ESPN 4-star prospect, the No. 7 point guard and No. 28 player nationally in the 2023 class. He said the Razorbacks tell him they want him to lead the team.
“I could be the leading guard, a floor general, get out in transition, score and facilitate,” Blocker said.
Musselman’s high energy level gets Blocker’s attention.
“Coach Muss brings a lot of energy,” Blocker said. “Watching their games, I see him yelling and screaming and getting hype, and even after the games.”
Blocker averaged a third-best nine points per game for a loaded Sunrise Christian squad to go with 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals per game as a junior. He helped lead the Buffaloes to a No. 5 status in ESPN’s final ranking.
Blocker also had an impressive 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and shot 53% overall and 42.6% from three.
Seeing fellow Arkansan and former Razorbacks guard Moses Moody be a one-and-done and have an impressive rookie season with the Golden State Warriors is inspiring.
“Seeing him go to the league and going to Arkansas, it’s a good thing for the program,” Blocker said. “I look at stuff like that, too, but at the end of the day I have to be myself.”