The Arkansas men’s basketball program is expecting to sign two prospects today, the first day of the early signing period, and a third player on Thursday.
Forrest City forward Trey Thompson, 6-9, 250, is scheduled to sign his national letter of intent at 10:30 a.m. in Forrest City while guard Nick Babb, 6-4, 180, of Arlington (Texas) Martin, will sign at his school around 1:30 p.m.
North Little Rock point guard Anton Beard, 6-1, 180, will wait until Thursday to sign during a ceremony at the school set to start at 4 p.m.
Beard said he has aspired to play college basketball since he started playing organized ball more than a decade ago.
“My dad first started me at the end of the second grade, going into the third grade, and I’ve been playing ever since then,” Beard said.
Beard, rated by ESPN as the nation’s 19th-best point guard and No. 92 prospect overall, picked the Razorbacks over several scholarship offers, including Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, Georgetown and Georgia Tech.
“It’s a big accomplishment for me and my family,”Beard said of signing with Arkansas. ”It’s been a long journey, and I’m blessed that I have the opportunity to sign on Thursday with the Arkansas Razorbacks, one of the best colleges in the world. I feel like I’ve accomplished something, but I’m not finished yet.”
Beard, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s 2012 Sophomore of the year and an All-Arkansas selection in 2013, played his first three seasons at Parkview before transferring to North Little Rock last spring.
He has been a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
“Courtney Fortson, that’s who I really admired,” said Beard, who was invited and participated in the Deron Williams Nike Point Guard and LeBron James Skills Camps. “Courtney Fortson had one of the biggest hearts I had ever seen in a guy that size, and I feel like I have one of the biggest hearts. In my eyes, no one can take that away from me.”
Thompson, who chose Arkansas over Memphis, Florida, Mississippi State and others, averaged about 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 block shots and 3 assists as a junior. He’s rated as a 3-star prospect and the nation’s No. 30 power forward by ESPN.
Babb, a 3-star prospect who is ESPN’s No. 30 shooting guard, picked Arkansas over about 11 scholarship offers from SMU, Texas A&M, Gonzaga and others.
UALR MEN
Trojans to add jucos
UALR Coach Steve Shields is expected to sign three junior-college players to help absorb the departures of Leroy Isler and Will Neighbour, who are in their final season of eligibility.
James Reid, a guard from the College of Southern Idaho, is expected to sign, along with guard Jerron Washington and forward Andre Brown, both from Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Reid, 6-4, originally from Bend, Ore., is known for his outside shooting. He scored 28 points in his season opener and is averaging 17.5 points through four games while making 14 of 22 three-pointers.
Brown is averaging 7.2 points and 7.5 rebounds through four games while playing for a Southwest Tennessee team that will send five players to Division I schools. Washington is averaging 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds.
Hoping to sign
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UALR
POS NAME HT WT SCHOOL
G James Reid 6-3 185 College of Southern Idaho
G Jerron Washington 6-4 190 SW Tennessee Community College
F Andre Brown 6-6 210 SW Tennessee Community College
ARKANSAS
F Trey Thompson 6-9 230 Forrest City
G Anton Beard 6-1 180 North Little Rock
GOING OUT OF STATE
POS NAME HT WT HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
G Joe Aikens 6-3 170 North Pulaski Air Force Academy
G Kahron Ross 5-10 160 Jonesboro Lehigh
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
ARKANSAS STATE
POS NAME HT HIGH SCHOOL
F Akasha Westbrook 5-9 Malvern
UALR
F Alivia Huell 5-11 Malvern
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
G Olivia McWilliams 5-6 eStem
GOING OUT OF STATE
POS NAME HT HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
G Tiffany Murdock 5-8 Malvern Louisiana Tech
BASEBALL
ARKANSAS STATE
POS NAME HT WT SCHOOL
P Zachary Patterson N/A N/A Cabot
UALR
P/OF Tanner Kirby 6-0 170 Maumelle
GOING OUT OF STATE
POS NAME HT WT HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
P/IF Joey Abraham 6-0 190 LR Central Vanderbilt
SWIMMING
NAME HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
Madison Edwards Alma Arkansas
TENNIS
NAME HOMETOWN COLLEGE
Branch Terrell Benton Arkansas
Planning to sign
Athletes planning to sign a letter of intent with the Arkansas Razorbacks this week:
TREY THOMPSON 6-9 230 Forrest City forward
ANTON BEARD* 6-1 180 North Little Rock guard
NICK BABB 6-4 180 Arlington (Texas) Martin guard *will sign Thursday
Sports, Pages 19 on 11/13/2013