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Arkansas basketball: Who is Eric Musselman targeting in the transfer portal?

connor goodson
·7 min read
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Eric Musselman already has his first commitment of the offseason via the transfer portal in the form of Keyon Menifield Jr. While Menifield’s addition is big, Razorback fans know that it’s just the first of many dominos to fall for next season.

Nick Smith Jr. and Ricky Council have both played their last games as Razorbacks with Anthony Black expected to join them in the coming days. Devo Davis announced he’d be testing the professional waters, but left the door open on a potential return to Fayetteville next season. That means Arkansas will need to replace 64% of the minutes played per game and 52.3 points per game if Davis decides not to come back.

As of this writing, Arkansas has officially contacted 83 players who have entered the transfer portal. The vast majority of those players are not being seriously pursued by Arkansas, but that long list of players gives us an idea the type of player Eric Musselman is targeting to replace that lost production.

Arkansas had a successful season but also had a fair share of glaring issues with their roster construction that led to a plethora of issues in conference play. Primarily, the lack of outside shooting, free throw shooting and a dominant low-post presence.

Let’s take a closer look at those areas of need and who Arkansas is after right now to fill them.

Veteran guard

(AP Photo – Tony Avelar)

The two most successful teams that Eric Musselman has had at Arkansas were led by veteran guards who could control or change a game when needed. In 2020-2021 it was [autotag]Jalen Tate[/autotag], [autotag]Desi Sills[/autotag] and [autotag]JD Notae[/autotag] then the next season JD Notae took the lead with help from [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Lykes[/autotag] and [autotag]Au’Diese Toney[/autotag].

Last season, Musselman opted to go a different route with roster construction as Devo Davis and Ricky Council were the only experienced guards in the main rotation. Freshmen Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. were the other two backcourt rotation players with a very occasional appearance of freshman sharpshooter Joseph Pinion. The youth and inexperience in the backcourt led to inconsistent play that became much more noticeable when Smith was out with a knee injury for much of the year.

Next season, Layden Blocker is the only incoming freshman guard and will likely be surrounded by other experienced guards in the rotation. Keyon Menifield is currently the only transfer commit and will be in his second collegiate season, so there is still room to add experience to the roster via the transfer portal.

Key Targets:

Primo Spears – Georgetown – Sophomore

 

Jayden Taylor – Butler – Sophomore

  • 6-4, 190 lbs. Two seasons of experience at Butler.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 12.9 points (40.8 FG%, 32.6 3PT%, 77.0 FT%), 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals

  • Scheduled official visit to Fayetteville for Saturday.

 

Tramon Mark – Houston – Junior

  • 6-5, 195 lbs. Three seasons of experience at Houston.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 10.1 points (39.0 FG%, 32.8 3PT%, 78.4 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals

  • Announced Arkansas in his final four schools on Wednesday.

Shooting

(Photo by Darryl Oumi – Getty Images)

It’s no secret that Arkansas was one of the worst teams in the country when it comes to shooting from beyond the arc and at the free throw line. They finished the season shooting 31.3% from deep which ranked 315th in the country out of 352 teams. Their 69.8% from the free throw line wasn’t much better as they ranked 245th in the country.

Their inability to knock down shots on the perimeter led to a stagnant offense and long scoring droughts as teams would sit in zone defense for long periods of time. Teams dared the Razorbacks to beat them with their three-point shooting and it was almost always a successful strategy. Their inability to consistently knock down free throws attributed to empty possessions and loss of momentum in crucial junctures of games, especially in SEC play.

Musselman is looking to address some of those shooting woes through the portal as most players that Arkansas is said to be heavily interested in have a respectable three-point and free throw percentage. [autotag]Keyon Menifield Jr.[/autotag] shot 33.0% from three last season, but had struggles at the free throw line where he only shot 69.8% as a freshman. The three veteran guards I mentioned above – Spears, Battle and Mack – all shoot above 30% from three and above 78% from the line. Here’s a look at some other solid shooters that Arkansas is interested in.

Key Targets:

Khalif Battle – Temple – Sophomore

  • 6-5, 175 lbs. Four seasons of experience (one at Butler, three at Temple).

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 17.9 points (41.0 FG%, 35.0 3PT%, 89.8 FT%), 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals

  • Scheduled official visit to Fayetteville for Thursday evening.

 

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. – Cal State Fullerton – Junior

  • 6-3, 189 lbs. Three seasons of experience at Cal State Fullerton.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 16.3 points (42.4 FG%, 38.3 3PT%, 81.3 FT%), 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals

  • Has had contact with Arkansas and played for assistant coach Gus Argenal at Cal State Fullerton in 2020-21 season.

 

LJ Cryer – Baylor – Junior

  • 6-1, 190 lbs. Three seasons of experience at Baylor.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 15.0 points (45.3 FG%, 41.5 3PT%, 89.4 FT%), 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

  • Has had contact with Arkansas and fits an immediate need.

Frontcourt help

(Photo by Nelson Chenault – USA TODAY Sports)

Arkansas received a couple of big announcements this week as Trevon Brazile and Jalen Graham announced they’d be returning to the Razorbacks next season. However, that doesn’t mean that Musselman is done adding pieces down low.

Neither Brazile or Graham fit the role of a traditional low post big, and aren’t known to be defensive anchors. Brazile showed flashes of his incredible shot blocking, but it might be a stretch to call him a dominant defender. Add in the uncertainty of the twins’ future – Makhi and Makhel Mitchell – and it’s easy to see why the Razorbacks could use some depth in the frontcourt.

A true stretch-four or traditional big could pair nicely with Brazile and help bolster the depth with Graham and incoming freshman Baye Fall. Here’s some of the “bigs” that Arkansas is after in the portal.

Key Targets:

Hunter Dickinson – Michigan – Junior

  • 7-1, 260 lbs. Three seasons of experience at Michigan.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 18.5 points (56.0 FG%, 42.1 3PT%, 72.7 FT%), 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 blocks

  • Had a Zoom meeting with Arkansas coaches this week, per the Roundball Pod.

 

Kel’el Ware – Oregon – Sophomore

  • 7-0, 210 lbs. One season of experience at Oregon.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 6.6 points (45.7 FG% and 71.2 FT%), 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks

  • Arkansas native. Has had contact with Arkansas coaches and remains engaged in recruitment process. Untapped potential.

 

BJ Mack – Wofford – Senior

  • 6-8, 245 lbs. Four seasons of experience at Wofford.

  • 2022-23 Season Averages: 16.6 points (49.2 FG%, 33.5 3PT%, 80.7 FT%), 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists

  • Listed Arkansas in his final five schools on Tuesday and has had multiple meetings with coaching staff.

Story originally appeared on Razorbacks Wire