FAYETTEVILLE -- Michael Qualls played basketball for Arkansas against Coach Billy Donovan's Florida Gators the previous three seasons.
Now Qualls may get a chance to play for Donovan in the NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, which hired Donovan as coach April 30 to end his 19-year tenure at Florida, have agreed to sign Qualls to a free-agent contract, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday, including the Oklahoman.
Qualls, a 6-6 guard who declared for the NBA Draft after his junior season, was projected to be a second-round pick. Then he tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament working out for the Phoenix Suns on June 11, two weeks before the draft, and wasn't selected.
After undergoing knee surgery, Qualls is expected to be sidelined six to nine months. He can go through the rehabilitation process under the supervision of the Thunder's medical and training staff, then should be able to play next summer.
"I think Mike adds an excitement that the NBA kind of embraces," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "He's an exciting player.
"His skill development his three years here, he really turned himself into a very good basketball player. He's an energy guy. He's a guy with a 7-3 wingspan that can guard perimeter guys. That's what the NBA teams are looking for is guys who can defend those perimeter guys.
"He can rebound the basketball. He shot the ball well for us this past year. He's a guy that plays with his heart. I think he's got a good basketball IQ as well
"Not only a guy who's going to make highlights, but he plays to win. He plays the right way. He's got a big-time motor, and that's big in basketball."
Anderson said he's been in touch with Qualls since his knee injury.
"It hurts my heart, but Mike is one of these guys where he'll bounce back, " Anderson said.
Other coaches on the SEC summer teleconference this week also expressed support for Qualls.
"It made me stick to my stomach, honestly, when I heard about it," Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings said. "You're sad for the bad luck of a kid with that happening.
"He's a guy that made great progress while he was in our league. He just got so much better from the time he got to Fayetteville to last year. I'm sure he's a resilient young man, and I certainly wish good things for him."
Missouri Coach Kim Anderson said he was shocked when Qualls was injured going up to contest a shot.
"I felt terrible for him because I really like him as a player," Kim Anderson said. "It's such an unfortunate thing to happen, but I'm sure he'll rehab and come back stronger than ever."
At the NBA combine, Qualls measured 4 percent body fat, the lowest of any player there.
"He worked to get his body in the best shape he possibly could," Mike Anderson said. 'Then to go down in one of the workouts as you're trying to play at the next level ...
"One thing, if I know Mike, is sometimes when you have a setback it puts you in position to have a great comeback. I look for him to have a great comeback."
Sports on 07/02/2015