Arkansas Basketball: The All-2000s Team
The best decade in Arkansas basketball’s history was the 1990s. The Razorbacks became a juggernaut in those 10 years and were on the brink of joining Duke, Kentucky, UCLA and Kansas in “blue blood” territory.
By the end of the 1990s and into the early 2000s, however, it was clear that the good times were over.
Nolan Richardson’s highly publicized and scrutinized firing in 2002 ended the most successful era in Arkansas basketball. Stan Heath replaced him, but failed to win an NCAA Tournament game in his five seasons at Fayetteville.
The end of the 2000s decade was the beginning of John Pelphrey’s reign with Arkansas and he didn’t fare much better than Heath – though he did win an NCAA Tournament game in his first season. We can skip over the 24 hours that Dana Altman was head coach of the Razorbacks.
Despite the turmoil and controversy, Arkansas produced some extremely talented players. Here’s a look at Arkansas basketball’s All-2000s team with the best players from this decade.
Starter (Guard) - Patrick Beverley
Before he was a defensive menace in the NBA, Beverley was terrorizing SEC backcourts with his ball handling and scoring ability. His defense and personality on the court weren’t as intense – yet – but Razorback fans saw a glimpse into what he could become. It’s a shame we only got two short seasons of him in an Arkansas uniform.
Starter (Guard) - Ronnie Brewer
Following in his father’s footsteps, the highly-regarded Brewer was an immediate factor for the Razorbacks. He was a 2006 All-American and two-time first team All-SEC selection in 2005 and 2006.
Brewer ranks 16th on Arkansas’ all-time scoring list with 1,416 points and was the program’s last NBA lottery pick (2008) until Moses Moody went in the lottery in 2021.
Starter (Forward) - Sonny Weems
Weems is a player that often gets overlooked, but was as good as any during his time with the Razorbacks. At 6-6, he had the athleticism and ball handling of a guard with the size of a forward that made it easy for him to absorb contact in the lane and finish at the rim consistently.
Weems went on to have a couple of short stints in the NBA after his two seasons at Arkansas, and would eventually having a long and storied career overseas. Most recently recently in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Starter (Forward) - Joe Johnson
It’s impossible to mention 2000s Arkansas basketball without bringing up the legend, Joe Johnson. Arguably the best modern NBA player that Arkansas has ever produced. “Iso Joe” spent two seasons with Arkansas and led them to their first SEC Tournament championship in 2000.
In his final season in Fayetteville, Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals on his way to second team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American honors. Until Anthony Black went No. 6 overall last month, Johnson was Arkansas’ last top ten pick in the NBA Draft.
Starter (Center) - Darian Townes
Townes is someone that gets somewhat overlooked when reminiscing on this period of Arkansas hoops. He primarily came off the bench during his time with the Hogs, but produced like a starter. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in his senior season.
Reserve (Guard) - Jannero Pargo
Pargo was an absolute stud during his two seasons at Arkansas. For his career, he averaged 14.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc. He carved out a very solid career in the NBA as a journeyman point guard and is currently head coach of the Indiana Pacers’ Summer League team.
Reserve (Guard) - Courtney Fortson
Courtney Fortson was a bright spot during two of the worst seasons in this decade. He was undersized but made up for it with his speed, quickness and aggressive demeanor. His scrappy attitude was similar to Patrick Beverley’s.
In two seasons at Arkansas, Fortson averaged 16.0 points, 5.9 assists and – get this – 5.4 rebounds (!). It’s not everyday that you see a 5-foot-11 point guard averaging over five boards a game.
Reserve (Guard) - Jonathon Modica
Jonathon “Pookie” Modica was the Robin to Ronnie Brewer’s Batman for three seasons. But he was very much capable of being Batman when he needed to. He averaged 16 points in two of his four seasons with the Razorbacks while shooting 35.8% from beyond the arc. Never forget his 37 point performance against South Carolina in 2006.
Reserve (Forward) - Mike Washington
Washington may get forgotten about, but his improvement from the 2007-08 season to the 2008-09 season deserves a lot of credit. He went from being a fringe rotation piece to the leading scorer for the Razorbacks, averaging 15.5 points per game.
Reserve (Center) - Steven Hill
Steven Hill became a fan-favorite during his Arkansas career. While his offensive game struggled, he more than made up for it with his intimidating paint presence. Hill averaged 2.4 blocks per game over his four seasons with the Razorbacks. Never forget his game-winning jumper against Tennessee in the 2008 SEC Tournament semifinals.
