Powell healing fine, Anderson says

 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/WILLIAM MOORE
Arkansas' Marshawn Powell battles for position against Alabama Birmingham's Elijah Millsap Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/WILLIAM MOORE Arkansas' Marshawn Powell battles for position against Alabama Birmingham's Elijah Millsap Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

— There's more than a month left until preseason practice officially begins for college basketball, but coach Mike Anderson said junior forward Marshawn Powell has been participating in team drills and conditioning.

Powell, the leading returning scorer (10.8 points per game) and rebounder (4.5 per game) for Arkansas, has been recovering from a foot injury suffered in the off-season.

"We've had about three workouts now where we've gotten up about 6 in the morning, in groups of four, and he participated in all the workouts," Anderson said. "He may get into about five minutes of the workout and have to step away for a minute, but for the most part - in terms of his health - he's progressing fine."

Anderson was in North Little Rock with his coaching staff and several former players for a meeting of the Little Rock Razorback Club at Park Hill Baptist Church.

Unlike a similar foot injury last summer, this injury didn't require surgery, but Powell has been resting the injury as a precaution. Powell missed the preseason and three regular season games last year because of the injury.

Anderson said he has no reason to believe that Powell won't be ready when preseason practices begin Oct. 15.

"At this point in time, there's no indication that he won't be," Anderson said.

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