LITTLE ROCK — Junior college linebacker Antonio Longino visited Arkansas in May, voiced his approval of the Razorbacks program and now plans to make a return trip for an official visit for the Rutgers game Sept. 22.
Longino, 6-3, 220 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, said that he has 13 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Minnesota, West Virginia, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. He said he also has visited Indiana, Kansas and Texas A&M, but Arkansas is his top school.
“I like the coaching staff and I like the school,” Longino said. “There hasn’t been any other school that I’ve been to that tops them yet. The facilities were good, everything was breathtaking.”
Longino will graduate in the spring. He redshirted last year and will have three years to play three. Longino isn’t looking to make a decision on where he’ll take his talents for the 2013 season.
“I’m just weighing my options,” said Longino, who reports a 345-pound bench press and 470 squat. “I’m just getting ready for the season right now.”
Secondary coach Bobby Allen has impressed Longino by talking about off-field things when Longino makes his weekly call.
“We have a good relationship because we talked about stuff other than football,” Longino said.
The Hogs players and others in the football program made him feel at ease during his first visit.
“The players were cool, too,” Longino said. “When I went around, everybody seemed nice and were professional about everything.”
Longino said he’s encouraged by looking at Arkansas’ depth chart and seeing several linebackers leaving after this season. He’s not sure what will convince him a school is the right fit for him.
“I don’t know, just showing that I can trust them I guess and making me feel at home,” Longino said.
YOUTH PREVAILS
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff conducted their last basketball camp of the summer Saturday and it was heavy on young talent.
Some of the top junior prospects were point guard Kahron Ross, 5-10, of Jonesboro and guard Zack Smith, 6-7, of Plano, (Texas) East. There were also numerous top sophomore guards, including Marquise Bryant, 6-3, of Jonesboro and North Little Rock’s KeVaughn Allen, 6-3. Allen has several scholarship offers, including one from Arkansas.
Two highly touted freshman prospects, guard Malik Monk of East Poinsett Countyand forward DeRon Davis, 6-9, of Aurora (Colo.) Overland, also attended. Monk is the younger brother of former Hogs receiver Marcus Monk, while Davis is rated the No. 4 player in his class by nationseliteprospects.com.
Davis attended last year’s camp but was more prepared for this summer’s camp, said George Williams, who coaches him and the Colorado Hawks.
“Last year was an eyeopener. He was young and was still developing,” said Williams, who’s originally from Fort Smith. “He had a great summer; he improved tremendously. He got to the camp, he was more physical and he knew what to expect, and he was pretty much showcasing he’s going to be one of the future premier big men coming out of high school in a few years.”
Summer basketball allowed Davis to impress the college coaches.
“He got a lot of recognition this summer from schools like Indiana and Michigan, UCLA, CU [Colorado],” Williams said. “Indiana already offered him a scholarship as an eighth-grader. They’re about to line up to get a chance on this kid.”
Williams said Davis is high on the Razorbacks.
“He really loves Arkansas,” Davis said. “He likes how they make him feel at home when he comes there. Everybody is so nice.”
TURNING TO TWITTER
Highly recruited offensive lineman Zach Hannon, 6-5, 300 pounds, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst High School will announce his college decision among Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri on Twitter around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 22 on 08/07/2012