University of Arkansas women's basketball Coach Mike Neighbors received an oral commitment from one of the top junior post players in the country during her an unofficial visit Saturday.
Destinee McGhee, 6-2, of Madison (Ala.) James Clemens is ESPN's No. 7 post player and No. 60 overall prospect for the 2020 class. She picked the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Arizona and North Carolina State.
She arrived in Fayetteville late Friday night and is expected to leave today. McGhee starred for Alabama Southern Starz in the spring and summer.
"She was a pretty consistent double-double on our team," Southern Starz director and Coach Doug Bush said. "Even though it was a 10th-grade team, we were as good as any 10th or 11th grade in the country, and she played great against some of the top talent across the country. Even kids taller than her."
Bush said McGhee is a joy off the court, but a terror on it.
"A really great kid with a great personality, and then she's an absolute warrior on the court," Bush said. "She has great feet, great hands, great touch. Finishes great in the post on both sides. She's right-handed, can finish with her right, she'll finish with her left. She shoots the ball like a guard."
McGhee attended Madison Academy in the seventh through ninth grades. She averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the private school to the Class 4A state championship as a freshman while being named the tournament MVP.
Her fondness of the Razorbacks is in large part because of her relationship with Neighbors.
"I think she really, really likes Coach Neighbors," Bush said. "She's spoken to him on the phone several times. He comes from a great pedigree himself having been at Washington and having been to the Final Four."
While at Washington, Neighbors coached forward-center Chantel Osahor, who was a second-team All-American as a senior. Osahor was also named a Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American while finishing her career as Washington's all-time leading rebounder.
Osahor and McGhee are similar players, which made Arkansas more attractive.
"That's a big selling point to her," Bush said. "She's just excited that he believes in her."
McGhee made a recent life-changing mission trip to Ghana. She made note of the experience on Twitter and made several comments, including: "I will never take anything for granted from now on. I encourage you to go on a mission trip and experience what I have."
"That was a very rewarding and great experience for her," Bush said. "That was something she really got a lot out of."
Neighbors and his staff also hosted Bentonville sophomore 6-6 post player Maryum Dauda; 6-2 freshman forward Bella Fontleroy of Kickapoo, Mo.; and Jaki Rollins, a 5-9 freshman guard from Mustang, Okla., and her sister Jordan Rollins, who's an eighth-grader, for visits Saturday.
Email Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports on 11/11/2018