LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas men’s basketball Coach Mike Anderson added two more oral commitments for the 2012 recruiting class Wednesday when guard Anthlon Bell and forward JaCorey Williams pledged to sign with the Hogs.
Bell, 6-3, 180 pounds, of Bartlett, Tenn., picked the Razorbacks over approximately 11 other scholarship offers, including ones from Missouri, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Richmond, and Kent State.
“I just felt it was a good fit for me,” Bell said. “Going in there next year will be a good situation for me and good for playing time also. I think it will be a real privilege to play for Coach Anderson. I have a good relationship with all of the coaches.” Bell, who made an official visit to Arkansas on Oct.14-16, said the Hogs’ uptempo style fit his offensive and defensive talents.
His relationship with the coaching staff also added to the appeal of the Razorbacks.
“They were real family-oriented,” said Bell, who averaged about 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a junior and is third on his school’s all time scoring list. “All of them. When I talked to them, they seemed like cool, down-to-earth guys. That’s what I liked about them.”
Bell made an official visit to Massachusetts in September but cancelled a planned visit to Missouri this weekend.
Williams, 6-8, 190, of Birmingham (Ala.) Central Park, chose Arkansas over Alabama, Boston College, Richmond and nine other scholarship offers. The decision came down to the Hogs and the Crimson Tide, but his mother’s intuition put Arkansas over the top.
“I kind of felt like both colleges were the same as far as what they had to offer,” said Williams, who made his official visit to Fayetteville on Oct. 7-9. “But my mom basically liked Arkansas. I figured if both were the same, why not go with my mom. She’s never been wrong about what she thought was best for me.” Anderson and assistant coach T.J. Cleveland - both Birmingham natives - also helped Williams feel comfortable with Arkansas.
“The biggest thing that stood out to me is the coaches have Birmingham ties,” Williams said. “Coach Anderson is from Birmingham and Coach T.J. is, too. I figured if they were going to come home and bring a player there, why would it not be the place for the player? They wouldn’t go home to get a player if they didn’t see him at Arkansas.”
Williams, who’s rated the No. 79 prospect in the country by national recruiting analyst Van Coleman of Hot100hoops.com, averaged about 18 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Birmingham Storm during the spring and summer.
Bell and Williams join swingman Michael Qualls, 6-5, 200, of Shreveport Huntington, as 2012 commitments for Arkansas.
Oral commitments are nonbinding.