State sports briefs

LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL UA commitment reopens recruitment

Deondre Skinner, a tight end from Patterson, La., who committed to Arkansas last May, said he is reopening his recruiting.

Skinner, 6-4, 225 pounds, 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he has not talked with new Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and doesn’t believe he is wanted in Fayetteville. Skinner was the second player to orally commit to the Razorbacks following the firing of Bobby Petrino.

Oral commitments are nonbinding.

“I just felt like that was what I had to do,” Skinner said. “I didn’t feel like I was important anymore. I felt like I didn’t fit. I see [Bielema] hitting up other recruits from other states and Arkansas and I felt like I’m the one that hasn’t gotten a call.”

Skinner said he is looking hard at Houston now that Arkansas isn’t an option.

“I’ll open up my recruiting up and see what else is out there,” Skinner said.

The Hogs have an oral commitment from Pulaski Academy tight end Hunter Henry, and tight end Brandon Vandenburg, 6-6, 260, 4.7 of College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif., said he will take an official visit to Arkansas on Jan. 25.

Arkansas, which signed five junior-college recruits in December, has nine oral commitments. With the five signees and nine commitments, the Hogs can sign 11 more prospects for their allotted 25 limit.

• Richard Davenport

BASKETBALL Collen to speak at Tip-Off Club

Arkansas women’s Coach Tom Collen will be the guest speaker at today’s Downtown Tip-Off Club meeting at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.

Lunch will be served at 11:15, and the program begins at noon. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Hendrix loses to Berry College

The Hendrix men’s team lost 85-78 to Berry College on Sunday in a Southern Athletic Association game at the Cage Center in Rome, Ga.

Hendrix (5-9, 0-3) shot 63 percent (10 of 16) but turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, leading to twice as many shots for Berry (3-9, 1-2), which made 18 of 32 (56 percent).

Senior guard Jaren Riley led Hendrix with 23 points, going 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, and pulled down 6 rebounds. Junior forward Colton Primm had 18 points and 2 blocks, and sophomore forward Luke Vance added 12 points and 6 rebounds.