Hog Calls

Coach's son leaves an impression

Arkansas' Manny Watkins (21) drives during a game against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas' Manny Watkins (21) drives during a game against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' superb senior three-point shooter Dusty Hannahs can hit no threes and still be envied by the opposing coach.

Arkansas' SEC Preseason Player of the Year and 6-10 shot-blocker extraordinaire Moses Kingsley can block no shots, yet the opposing coach lusts having him on his roster.

First-year Stephen F. Austin Coach Kyle Keller, who waged SEC battles against Arkansas as a Texas A&M assistant the past five years, lauded Hannahs and Kingsley on Thursday night after his Lumberjacks lost 78-62 to Coach Mike Anderson's Razorbacks at Walton Arena.

Hannahs shot zip for 2 on three-pointers but tallied a game-high 15 points.

"We tried to keep him from catching it and we couldn't stop him," Keller said.

Kingsley blocked no shots yet ultimately influenced the game on both ends.

"Kingsley, he is a beast," Keller said.

Keller discussed both at length, yet his conversation lingered longest on neither.

Keller talked mostly about Arkansas senior guard Manuale Watkins, the son of Melvin Watkins, Anderson's top assistant and former Texas A&M head coach.

Keller marveled that 6-3 Manuale Watkins in 21 minutes subtly packed 8 points, a team-leading 7 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals.

That doesn't include an unofficial, yet essential, stat that Anderson's staff tabulates.

"We keep a stat about deflections," Anderson said. "We had 37 tonight. Well, Manuale had 10 of them. We came up with quite a few of those balls because we had 12 steals. His energy is contagious."

Keller said it's his experience that coaches' kids either play entitled or play smart.

"He does not play entitled," Keller said.

Watkins graduated Fayetteville High spurning smaller school scholarship offers to walk on.

The scholarship Watkins netted as a sophomore seems as well earned by any Razorbacks walk-on since the late All-American football player Brandon Burlsworth.

"For someone who is not the most talented, not the biggest, I would take him on my team every night," Keller said. "I wish I had Manuale Watkins on my team because that dude, all he does is win. He just makes everyone better."

And, Keller asserted, Watkins can be a surprising scorer for an alleged non-shooter.

"The first true jump shot he takes is going to be the last one that he takes because I have never seen him shoot one." Keller said. "He just shoots that floater and picks you apart. Every scouting report says, 'Don't guard him' and all he does is pick you apart if you don't guard him. He became their point guard tonight and it was all she wrote for us because he made plays for Hannahs and everybody else out there."

The Hogs appreciate it.

"Manny is just going to be Manny," Hannahs said. "We love playing with him. He is going to do every part of the game. He is going to hustle. He is going to be in the passing lanes, pass, screen, rebound, everything. That's what Manny does. He's a great player."

Sports on 12/03/2016

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