Arkansas guard Anton Beard plays bigger than his 6-foot height would suggest.
"If you didn't know any better, you'd think he was 7 feet tall," Razorbacks sophomore guard Manny Watkins said. "That's just his mind-set. He doesn't care who you are.
Anton Beard at a glance
COLLEGE Arkansas
POSITION Guard
CLASS Freshman
HT./WT. 6-0, 195
AGE 18 (Born May 6, 1996)
NOTEWORTHY Has become a key reserve for the Razorbacks, averaging 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.3 minutes. … Played on three state championship teams in high school, winning the Class 7A title as senior at North Little Rock and two 6A titles at Little Rock Parkview. … Averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 2.2 assists a senior at North Little Rock. … As a junior at Parkview averaged 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals. … Two-time All-Arkansas selection by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
"If LeBron James walked in here, he'd be like, 'Check up. Let's go, let's play.' "
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson referenced Beard's rebound in traffic against Dayton last Saturday as an illustration of the physical presence he brings to the team.
It happened during the first half of the Razorbacks' 69-55 victory. Flyers guard Scoochie Smith missed a three-point attempt and Beard was the shortest among three players going for the long rebound. Beard grabbed the rebound away from Dayton 6-6 sophomore Kendall Pollard, who then fouled him.
"Anton's always around the ball," Anderson said. "He's a guy that will get in there and get gritty and dirty, and I love those kind of players."
Beard, a freshman, led North Little Rock to a 26-2 record and the Class 7A state championship last season when he averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 2.2 assists. He'll be back home tonight when the Razorbacks (7-2) play Southeast Missouri State (5-5) in Verizon Arena.
"Each game he's getting better," Anderson said. "He's taking steps forward to become the player we think he can be. One thing he does not lack is confidence, and I like that about him."
Beard, who has played off the bench in every game and is averaging 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.3 minutes, said he isn't surprised he's been able to find a spot in the playing rotation so quickly.
"It's not being cocky, it's just confidence," he said. "You've got to have confidence in yourself in anything you do. I believe what I've been doing will help the team."
Beard is shooting 36.6 percent from the field (15 of 41), but he is 4 of 8 on three-point attempts with all of them coming in key situations.
In Arkansas' 83-53 victory over Wake Forest, Beard hit two three-point baskets as part of 15-0 run in the first half when the Razorbacks took control.
Beard's three-pointer in the first half when Arkansas won 78-72 at SMU gave the Razorbacks a 19-12 lead in a game in which they never trailed.
Arkansas pulled away to beat Iona 94-77 after Beard's three-point basket put the Razorbacks ahead 63-61 with 10:58 left.
"The way we play, I don't really look at the score," Beard said after the Iona game. "I was just open and they swung it to me. Coach always says get ready to shoot. I was ready to shoot and knocked it down."
Junior forward Jacorey Williams said Beard has added toughness to the Razorbacks.
"He's one of our best defenders," Williams said. "He's always in there getting dirty with the big men, down there fighting with the big men to get a rebound."
Williams said Beard has the right mind-set to play for the Razorbacks and plenty of experienced teammates to help him make the transition from high school.
"Nobody's steering him in the wrong direction," Williams said. "Everybody wants him to do well.
"We all see potential in him. We try to talk to him as older guys and bring it out of him."
Sports on 12/20/2014