Arkansas Baptist College president Fitz Hill was a full-time football assistant coach for nine seasons at Arkansas (1992--2000) before leaving to be the head coach at San Jose State in 2001. He coached the Spartans four seasons.
His son, Justice, who was seven months old when his father took the San Jose State job, was a driving force for him to get out of coaching. Now a freshman at Little Rock Christian, Justice is a promising point guard for the Warriors in basketball and a quarterback in football.
Hill, 5-11, 160 pounds, had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists in a 74-45 victory over Greenbrier on Tuesday night.
"That's why I got out of coaching so I could do this," said Fitz Hill, who is a volunteer coach for Little Rock Christian basketball team. "Like I told him, if I was on the road recruiting, I wouldn't be sitting on the bench tonight."
Hill is drawing strong recruiting interest from Arkansas, in addition to interest from Virginia, Connecticut, Stanford and Oklahoma State.
Despite his youth, Hill has excellent athleticism and skills beyond his years and has an excellent chance of receiving a basketball scholarship offer from the Hogs in the not-so-distance future.
His skill-set was enhanced by playing with the 14-under Arkansas Hawks last summer. Fitz Hill said his son's talent was noticed because of the exposure he received while playing for the Hawks, an organization run by Bill Ingram.
"I don't know the AAU game," Fitz Hill said. "I'm a football coach. I really don't know, ability wise, how he stacks up. Coach Ingram has told me what he's seen over the years, point guard wise, and as a ninth grader, if Justice continues to work, he has a chance to be a very special point guard."
Hill, who's averaging 12.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Warriors (10-5), had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in a 66-52 victory over Harrison on Friday night.
"The Harrison coach said Justice is the best freshman he's seen," Little Rock Christian Coach Austin Trembley said.
Hill is also an outstanding quarterback. He completed 54 of 77 passes for 1,267 yards, 19 touchdowns and 62 rushes for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Warriors' ninth grade team last season. He started at cornerback for the high school team during the playoffs.
Hill attended football camps at Arkansas, Texas and Auburn last summer, and he recorded a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40 yard dash and a 37-inch vertical jump.
Fitz projects his son will grow some and sees his future likely to be on the basketball court.
"Being 6-1 or 6-2 with his [explosiveness], he'll have a chance," Fitz said. "Basketball probably has a edge on football, but he'll probably get offered in football as well as basketball."
The allure of Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson's program is strong for Justice and his family. Fitz Hill was Arkansas' recruiting coordinator for football in 1998-2000, while Anderson was the recruiting coordinator for basketball under Nolan Richardson during the same period.
Both families developed a strong bond during their time in Fayetteville.
"To us, that's a preexisting relationship," Fitz Hill said. "Justice would love to play for Coach Anderson."
The in-state 2018 and 2019 basketball classes could have some of the best talent Arkansas has produced in numerous years.
The Hogs have already extended scholarship offers to two sophomores: center Connor Vanover, 7-3, 210, of Baptist Prep in Little Rock, and Little Rock Parkview forward Ethan Henderson, 6-8, 190. Vanover plays for the Arkansas Wings in the spring and summer, while Henderson plays for the Arkansas Hawks.
The Hawks 15-under team featured two other very promising freshmen; forward-center Kalin Bennett, 6-9, 230, of Little Rock Christian, and forward-center Caleb Stokes, 6-9, 250, of Little Rock Parkview. The Hawks 14-under team also had highly regarded freshman shooting guard Jamarius Campbell, 6-4, 185, of Nettleton.
An offer from the Hogs would likely result in a quick commitment from Justice. His father said he sees upcoming in-state talent and hopes his son would help the Razorbacks get to the elite level again.
"What I've told him is, 'Let's take the Fab Five to Coach Anderson,' " Fitz Hill said. " 'Let's help him recruit a national championship.' If he says 'You're my point guard. Can you be the next Lee Mayberry and do like Coach Richardson did and bring those athletes up there?' "
Fitz Hill said he doesn't see the need for in-state prospects leaving the state.
"Why not we just build it right here?," Hill said.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/17/2016