The Real Deal in the Rock basketball tournament being played in Central Arkansas Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature numerous top prospects and several that are being recruited by Arkansas.
Junior power forward De'Ron Davis of the Colorado Hawks is major Arkansas target for the 2016 class. Davis and the Hawks will play We All Can Go from Nashville, Tenn. on Court 1 at the P.A.R.K Complex on Geyer Springs Road Friday at 7:30 pm.
Davis, 6-9, 240 of Aurora, Colo., Overland, is rated as the nation's No. 7 power forward and No. 29 overall prospect by ESPN. He has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Arizona, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Indiana, UCLA and others.
Real Deal Executive Director Bill Ingram said he believes Davis is the most highly sought big man Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson has recruited since his return to Fayetteville in 2011.
"De'Ron will probably be the highest-ranked power forward Arkansas has had a legitimate chance of signing since Corliss Williamson," Ingram said.
Davis has attended two Arkansas summer camps and is fond of Anderson, his staff as well as the Razorbacks' style of play. Colorado Hawks Coach George Williams is an Arkansas native.
"The way he runs up and down the floor he would be perfect in Arkansas' system," Ingram said. "I think he'll be a better college player than a high school player after he gets into an excellent weight program and fine-tunes his body."
The Real Deal has featured 131 NBA first-round draft picks, including six overall No. 1 picks in the previous 10 years along with 120 college All-Americans and 22 conference Players of the Year.
Ingram said Davis can be compared to Louisville junior power forward Montrezl Harrel, who is expected to declare for the NBA draft and be selected in the first round.
"His skill level is a little better than Montrezl's," Ingram said of Davis. "I remember when Montrezl played in Real Deal."
It's uncertain if freshman forward Marvin Bagley will play with We All Can Go this weekend, but if he does it will give fans a chance to see Davis and Bagley square off. Bagley is considered by some the top prospect in the 2018 class and one of the best in the nation regardless of class.
"He's probably the next LeBron James," Ingram said.
Bagley III, 6-10, 215 of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz., received his first scholarship offer in the seventh grade and has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA and others. The Hogs are showing interest.
Scout.com released itsUltimate 100 in February that combines the best prospects in the ninth to the 12th grade, and Bagley is ranked as the nation's No. 8 player.
"That's including guys that have signed and are getting ready to go to college next year," Ingram said.
Bentonville junior Malik Monk, who might be the top prospect the state has produced, is rated No. 14 on the list.
Arkansas fans can also get a look at sophomore forward S.K. Shittu, who will play for the Arkansas Hawks. He has scholarship offers from Oklahoma, LSU, Tulsa and others while drawing strong interest from the Hogs.
Shittu, 6-9, 193, of Rogers Providence Christian Academy, caught the eye of Coach Mike Anderson and his staff during a Razorbacks summer camp last year. His will likely add numerous other offers to his list if his stock continues to rise during the spring and summer, as is expected.
"He's dynamite," Ingram said. "He's blowing up all over the place."
Shittu and the Hawks will tip off against highly regarded Rashard Lewis Elite of Houston, Texas, at 6:25 pm Friday on Court 2 at P.A.R.K.
Arkansas is pursuing highly recruited junior shooting guard Terrance Ferguson, 6-6, 180, of Mo Williams Elite of Dallas. ESPN rates Williams as the No. 2 shooting guard and the nation's No. 9 overall prospect.
Ferguson will lead Mo Williams Elite against Greenwood Elite on Court 1 at P.A.R.K. at 9:40 Friday night.
Others top prospects participating include 1 Nation junior small forward Josh Jackson, 6-6, 184, of Southfield, Mich., MBA Hoops junior small forward Mario Kegler, 6-7, 218, of Jackson, (Miss) Arlington County Day School and New Orleans Elite sophomore center Mitchell Robinson, 6-10, 200, of New Orleans Landry-Walker.
ESPN rates Jackson as the nation's No. 2 small forward and No. 3 overall prospect while Kegler is the nation's No. 11 small forward and No. 35 overall prospect. Robinson is rated the No. 6 center and No. 12 overall prospect in the 2017 class.
SIGNEE WHITT IN ACTION
Arkansas fans can catch a glimpse of Razorbacks signee Jimmy Whitt on Thursday in the Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Classic, which will pit Whitt and an Arkansas squad against a group of Tennessee All Stars at Little Rock Hall.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 pm after the girl's Arkansas-Tennessee All Star game that will feature Arkansas signees Jordan Danberry of Conway and Malika Monk of North Little Rock that will start at 6.
"He's excited to be coming down and playing and receiving support from the Razorback fans," Ingram said of Whitt. "He's an exciting player to watch. The fans will be in for a treat."
Conley is expected to be in attendance.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 03/31/2015