GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — Germantown, Tenn., shooting guard Austin Hollins is high on Arkansas' wish list, and he is also high on the Hogs after an unofficial visit to Fayetteville a few weeks ago.
Hollins, 6-4, 170 pounds, was accompanied on the trip Aug. 8 by his mother and sister. His father, Lionel Hollins, is the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. Lionel Hollins also won an NBA title as a starting guard with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and was an All-Star in 1978.
"I had a great time down there," Austin Hollins, who averaged about 15 points and 7 rebounds last season, said of the UA. "The campus is beautiful.Everyone I met from the coaching staff to the strength coach and to the video guys were all personable and welcoming. It's just a good atmosphere there."
Arkansas' facilities made quite an impression on Hollins, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Memphis, Minnesota, Tulane, and Middle Tennessee along with receiving strong interest from Georgia, Oregon State and Stanford.
"I was looking around Bud Walton Arena, and I was like, 'Wow.' " he said.
Hollins watched film with all of Arkansas' coaches and liked the scoring opportunities the offense allows guards.
"They do a lot of running up and down, which I like, and they press," Hollins said. "But the main thing that they do is a lot of pick and roll. Not just one, after one pick you'll have another pick coming and another pick. They have a lot of movement."
Coach John Pelphrey assured Hollins' mother he would be taken care of at Arkansas.
"He basically laid it out that he wanted me to come there,"Hollins said. "He told my mother and sister that I would be in good hands. And after spending time with the coaching staff and everyone, I think my mom was comfortable with me coming down there if that's where I decide to go."
Hollins, who said he's leaning toward majoring in business, liked what he saw of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
"I didn't know that they had such a good business school," said Hollins, who reports a 3.5 grade-point average. "I didn't know that there were that many businesses in Fayetteville that you could choose to do internships with."
Hollins said he will take an official visit to Minnesota in September and plans to visit Memphis. He said he might return to Fayetteville on an official visit.
"I want to go somewhere most of all that has good academics, which I can see they have," Hollins said. "And a place I can fit into the basketball program. I want good coaching. Some place I can talk to not just the assistant coaches but the head coach about issues I might have."
Basketball recruits have the option of signing during the early signing period, which runs Nov. 11-18, or during the spring signing period from April 14-May19.
"I'm playing it by ear," Hollins said. "If I'm ready to make a decision early, I'll go ahead and make a decision, but if I'm not ready, I'll wait until spring."
BIG PLANS
With senior Michael Washington departing after the 2009-2010 season, Arkansas is looking to fill the void with another big man.
Junior college center Eric Buckner is scheduled to take an official visit to Fayetteville on Sept. 18-20 during the Georgia football game weekend.
Buckner said he has scholarship offers from Arkansas and Georgia and is drawing interest from Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma State, St. John's, Georgia State and others.
Assistant coach Isaac Brown is the lead recruiter of Buckner.
"We talk about every week," Buckner said. "He seems like a pretty good guy. He's been real truthful with me throughout the recruiting process. He tells me how bad they need a big guy with my skills. He said Michael Washington is leaving next year and come in and replace him from Day One."
Buckner, 6-10, 205, of Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla., averaged 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds last season for the 24-9 Commodores, who had three players sign with Division I schools (Iowa State, Texas Tech and North Carolina-Charlotte).
"This year, he's going to be counted on a lot more," said Josh Weinfuss of the Panama City News Herald. "He's added some more muscle to bang underneath the board a little bit more, but that's not his game. He's more of finesse, agile inside guy, very good shot blocker. He has the potential to be a scorer. He does have a soft touch around the basket. He has a good 15-foot jump shot."
He averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds as a senior for Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in Bamberg, S.C., and played in the South Carolina high school allstar game.
Buckner, who said Georgia and Georgia State have talked to him about setting up an official visit, likes what Arkansas has to offer on and off the court.
"I think the SEC fits my style of play," Buckner said. "They're a team that runs the floor. They have a good business school, and I'm trying to major in business. I'm looking for a school where I can come in and start and get some touches. I know it won't be given to me and I have to work hard."
Buckner said he hasn't decided if he'll sign during the early or spring signing period.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com
Sports, Pages 20 on 08/25/2009