Arkansas basketball officially lands pair of high 4-stars on Wednesday
The future of Arkansas basketball continued to get stronger on Wednesday, as Eric Musselman officially landed two prominent four-star recruits in the class of 2024.
Dynamic 6-foot-9 and 185-pound wing Jalen Shelley, the No. 46 overall prospect in the class, according to Rivals.com, signed a NLI with the Hogs Wednesday morning, during a ceremony at Link Academy in Branson, Mo.
Later that afternoon, Arkansas then added the signature of 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard Isaiah Elohim, the No. 34 overall prospect, according to Rivals.com.
Prior to transferring to Link Academy this season, Shelley averaged 18.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior at Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas), leading the Lions to a state title last season. He chose Arkansas over offers from Ohio State, Texas, LSU, Houston, Colorado, Louisville, Marquette, Texas A&M, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, among other programs.
He averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range for Houston Hoops in May on the Nike EYBL circuit. He is the second Link Academy product to sign with the Razorbacks in the last three years, joining former Hog and current Boston Celtics rookie, Jordan Walsh.
“I chose Arkansas because I feel as if they were the best fit for my development and goals,” Shelley said. “They have a great plan for me to help me maximize my potential and I can see myself being great in a Hog uniform.”
Elohim, a native of Kingston, NY, averaged averaged 16 points, five rebounds and three assists last season, as a junior at Sierra Canyon (Calif.), playing alongside Bronny James and 4-star forward Ashton Hardaway. He chose Arkansas over offers from UCLA, USC, Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Villanova, Oregon, among others.
With an impressive mid-range shot and his ability to score around the rim, he has the size and athleticism that Musselman’s guards have thrived with. Along with Shelly, Elohim is the 15th prospect rated 4-star or higher that Musselman has signed since he arrived in Fayetteville in 2019.
With a strong focus on the transfer portal, Musselman still brought in two highly-touted freshmen this season, with Layden Blocker, rated No. 24 overall in the 2023 class, along with Baye Fall, who was rated No. 36.
Adding Elohim and Shelley has now given the Razorbacks the No. 18 recruiting class in the country for 2024.
