Kapita on board with Razorbacks

tedkapita
tedkapita

Power forward Ted Kapita, No. 69 college basketball prospect in the nation according to ESPN, signed and faxed in his national letter of intent to Arkansas on Thursday morning.

Kapita, 6-9, 235 pounds, played for Huntington Prep in West Virginia and chose Arkansas over scholarship offers from numerous schools that included West Virginia, Memphis, Oregon and Missouri.

A native of Kinshasa, Congo, Kapita moved to the United States in 2011 and started began his journey to Fayetteville as a junior at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, where he averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds before transferring to Huntington for his senior year.

He delayed his signing so the father of his host family could be there for the ceremony after returning home from visiting his daughter, who lives in Northwest Arkansas. Kapita praised Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and his staff for their recruiting efforts.

"A lot of schools tell a player what they want to hear, but not Arkansas," Kapita said. "No promises, no pressure."

Kapita, who was accompanied by Huntington Prep Coach Arkell Bruce, took an official visit to Fayetteville on Oct. 24-26. He was hampered much of the past season with a pinched nerve in his left hip that limited him to seven games.

"I'm in [the] process," Kapita said of his rehabilitation.

Anderson was thrilled to add Kapita.

"Ted is a person of high character and a great competitor," Anderson said. "He plays the game with energy, relentless effort and has a willingness to get better. His physicality and size combined with his ability to step out to the perimeter and also face up makes him a unique talent at his age.

"He really hit it off with our players, and we feel we have added a much needed piece to our team."

Rebounding is one of Kapita's strengths.

"It's big part of the game," said Kapita, who is rated the No. 16 power forward in the nation by ESPN. "It's just a gift God gave me and I use it in many ways."

The Hogs signed combination guard Jimmy Whitt, 6-2, 170, of Columbia (Mo.) Hickman during the early signing period in November and are recruiting several other 2015 prospects.

Forward Dikembe Dixson of Delbarton, W.Va., will take an official visit to Arkansas on May 8-10, according to Corey Evans of Roundball Roundup Report.

Dixon, 6-7, 190, averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds a game while playing shooting guard and small forward this past season.

Sports on 04/24/2015

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