Two future basketball Razorbacks impressed a former Arkansas great at the Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Classic at Little Rock Hall on Thursday night.
Pat Bradley coached Team Arkansas against Team Tennessee in the game and was able to see small forward Adrio Bailey and shooting guard Daryl Macon.
Bailey, 6-7, 205 of Campti (La.) Lakeview, scored 23 points, including a three-pointer in a 147-142 double-overtime loss. He also did something usually not seen in an All-Star game, he drew two charging calls.
Bradley liked what he saw of Bailey.
"I had not had a chance to see Bailey, but I love him," Bradley said. "I mean who takes a charge in an all-star game? Somebody said he kind of reminds him of Ali Thompson, who I played with, but he is 6-7."
Bailey averaged 19.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 1.5 steals a game as a senior while shooting 67 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line.
"This kid has a nice form on his jump shot, bends his knees, handles it well and has a great attitude -- which has probably stuck out to me more than anything," said Bradley, who was assisted by former Arkansas guard Kareem Reid.
The chance to play in front a good-sized crowd with numerous fans wearing Razorback gear was humbling to Bailey.
"Oh man, I thought this was Bud Walton for a minute," Bailey said. "It was exhilarating just seeing all of the people and knowing this is where I want to be next year. It's a great feeling."
Bradley said Bailey was very attentive to his coaching during timeouts.
"A lot of times these kids are looking into the crowd in these games, but he is ready, he is listening and he goes hard," Bradley said.
"That is the most impressive thing."
Bailey chose Arkansas over offers from Wichita State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech and others. He hasn't recorded his vertical jump recently, but jumped 38 inches as a sophomore.
"He's got springs and I didn't realize that," Bradley said. "What I like about him just by looking at him is his legs and his calves are thick. I am not going to say they are defensive end thick, but they are lot thicker for a 6-7 guy that can run and jump like he can. That's durability right there."
Bradley also liked Bailey's shot and his defensive ability and believes Coach Mike Anderson got a good one.
"He wasn't stressing and he was one of the only guys that we had that was committed to defensive rebounding and committed to defense," Bradley said.
Bailey, who plans to report to Fayetteville in late May, is ready for the next chapter of his life.
"Right now I'm not really excited anymore, it's more like taking that grown-man step and actually getting ready for it now," Bailey said.
Macon, 6-4, 185, of Holmes Community College in Mississippi, scored 35 points, including six three-pointers for Team Arkansas. Bradley compared the former Parkview product to another Razorback great.
"Daryl reminds me of Scotty Thurman, not just how he walks, but he is thoughtful," Bradley said.
"Scotty is one of those guys that is thoughtful and can figure things out, figure people out really fast."
Bradley liked that Arkansas fans could see the talented duo.
"It was great for them to get back and everyone just see the talent that we have coming," Bradley said. "Those dudes are impressive."
Macon was glad to be back in his hometown.
"I enjoyed it, first time in two years, playing in front of my mom and she had not seen me play in about a year," Macon said. "It was exciting and I just wanted to put on a show for the fans."
He finished sixth nationally, scoring 23.9 points a game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from beyond the three-point line and 82.9 percent on free throws.
Macon thinks the 2016 class that also includes other signees like guard Jaylen Barford of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee and forward Arlando Cook of Connors State College in Oklahoma along with committed guard C.J. Jones of Birmingham, (Ala.) Park Christian as a special group.
"I really think a lot of people are sleeping on the group because we have got a lot of Jucos, so that can't really rate our junior college class," Macon said.
Email Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 04/03/2016