THE RECRUITING GUY

Arkansas pinpoints point guard

Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins, right, and assistant coach TJ Cleveland, left, direct their team during the second half of play Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins, right, and assistant coach TJ Cleveland, left, direct their team during the second half of play Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

Arkansas basketball Coach Mike Anderson and associate head coach Melvin Watkins watched junior college point guard Trey Dickerson on Thursday night and Dickerson received a scholarship offer from the Hogs the next day.

“They were telling me that I’m the guy they want,” Dickerson said. “They want me to set up an official visit and see everything for myself. They said I could help out the team by being a leader and come and find guys in the right spots. Basically help them out by being another floor general.”

Dickerson, 6-0, 178 pounds, of Williston State College in North Dakota, is averaging 19.9 points and 5.7 assists in 27 games. He also reports scholarship offers from Washington State, Nebraska, Iowa, Boise State and Western Kentucky while numerous other schools are showing interest.

Dickerson said he plans to take an official visit to Fayetteville after the season.

“I like them a lot,” Dickerson said. “It’s a great situation. That’s the team inside the state. They’re the only team there and they get all of the attention and all of the fans show them a lot of support.”

Dickerson said he is impressed by Anderson and Watkins.

“They’re real great guys,” Dickerson said. “They’re straight up and honest. They can actually help me on and off the court.”

Dickerson averaged 14 points and 8 assists at Price High School in Los Angeles before going to God’s Academy, a prep school in Dallas, where he averaged 23 points and 8 assists in 2012-2013. He has three years of eligibility at his new school.

Dickerson said he has watched a few Arkansas games and sees himself fitting in.

“I definitely think I can help them out a lot,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson said he is good friends with another player Arkansas is recruiting, power forward Willie Atwood, 6-8, 220, of Connor State College in Warner, Okla. Dickerson said he and Atwood hope to play together on the next level.

“Coach Anderson believes Arkansas is the best fit for me and Willie,” Dickerson said.

MEET THE MILTONS

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his staff hosted about five junior football prospects on Saturday and the reviews were positive.

Defensive lineman Jozie Milton, who received his first scholarship offer from Arkansas in January, was accompanied by his parents on the visit.

“I liked it a lot,” Milton said. “I really enjoyed Arkansas. I really liked all the one-on-one time with all the coaches.”

Milton, 6-3, 294, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Clinton (La.) Silliman Institute, has seen offers come his way since Arkansas extended one. Arizona State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina are a few others who have offered.

Milton said he enjoyed his team with Rory Segrest, Arkansas’ new defensive line and specialists coach.

“I was the only D-lineman in there,” Milton said. “He and I talked the whole time. Wasn’t just about football. We were just talking and then we started talking about football. He’s cool, very good guy.”

Milton said he was entertained by Bielema’s ability to reference the popular movie Meet the Fockers, during which actor Robert DeNiro, playing a retired CIA agent, explained the circle of trust to his future son-in-law.

“He was talking about a circle of trust and he brought up Meet the Fockers,” Milton said. “I died when he said that. He’s extremely funny. He had me rolling.”

Milton said his parents enjoyed the trip.

“They really enjoyed Arkansas,”said Milton, who visited Oklahoma State on Sunday. “They said it’s beautiful and it’s not extremely far from home. It’s not a 16-hour drive.”

The trip helped Milton evaluate where the Hogs rank on his list.

“They’re pretty high,” Milton said.

SON OF FORMER HOG

Bryant offensive lineman Cameron Davis said his Arkansas visit was well run.

“It was nice, it was real nice,” Davis said. “I was just impressed with the whole setup and everything and how organized they were. Arkansas is definitely one of my top schools.”

Davis, 6-4, 262, 5.2, is one of the state’s more athletic offensive linemen and has scholarship offers from Arkansas State and Southern Miss. Davis said Coach Bret Bielema wants him to attend camp in June so the Hogs can evaluate him more and possibly earn an offer.

Davis’ father, Isaac, was an Arkansas offensive lineman from 1990 to 1993 and played five seasons in the NFL. Davis said his father was caught off guard by the Hogs’ facilities.

“Oh, he was surprised,” Davis said. “Obviously Arkansas has come a long ways since he played. It was a just a lot different.”

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 20 on 02/25/2014

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