All-Arkansas Preps Boys Athlete Of The Year

NLR receiver Hill does his homework

K.J. Hill. Offensive player of the year
K.J. Hill. Offensive player of the year

A new school was no problem for K.J. Hill, North Little Rock's gifted junior who excelled at wide receiver in football and at guard in basketball.

Hill, who played for Bryant as a sophomore, helped the Charging Wildcats reach the Class 7A playoff semifinals in football and win the Class 7A state championship in basketball.

"This is what I've strived for," Hill said. "This is the position I want to be in."

Hill, 6-1, 195 pounds, was the All-Arkansas Preps Offensive Player of the Year after catching 63 passes for 1,143 yards and 16 touchdowns, rushing 17 times for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, returning 26 punts for 502 yards and 1 touchdown and 6 kickoffs for 194 yards and 1 touchdown.

Hill caught at least two passes in every game, including a career-high 10 against Jonesboro, and had had four games with at least 100 receiving yards.

"Phenomenal athlete," said Brad Bolding, North Little Rock's football coach. "Growing up in this, and being around it my whole life, I've seen lots of great players. But really what gets him in a different league is from the shoulders up. He's just a different animal when it comes to the mental part of the game."

Bolding said Hill has already familiarized himself with every college that has offered him a football scholarship, focusing on the school's receivers coach and his track record for player development.

"It's not necessarily how many guys that coach has sent to the NFL, it's productivity," Bolding said.

Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon are among the schools that have offered Hill a scholarship.

Johnny Rice, North Little Rock's basketball coach, said he believes Hill is also good enough to play college basketball at a high level.

Hill helped the Charging Wildcats finish 26-2 by averaging 15 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He also was named to the 7A all-tournament team after scoring 12 points in an 89-81 victory over Springdale in the state championship game.

Rice said Hill's speed -- he was recently electronically timed in 4.59 in the 40-yard dash -- was evident during his first basketball workout at North Little Rock.

"He got out on a little break and I saw the burst of speed he had," Rice said. "It was just another whole gear that I had never seen before."

Hill is scheduled to attend "The Opening," Nike Football's prestigious recruiting combine, next month in Oregon.

Sports on 06/08/2014

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