Arkansas women's basketball coach Jimmy Dykes has a slogan attached to a wall in his office that reads: "It's hard to beat relentless."
Fayetteville guard Grayce Spangler, the latest oral commitment to Dykes' program, can relate.
"That's something I take pride in," Spangler said. "That's one thing people can control, but a lot of people don't do.
"I just feel like that's something easy I can do. That's what he's trying to build his program around, just being relentless. Always going hard all the time."
Spangler, 5-11, was named the MVP of Arkansas' June 20 Elite camp in Fayetteville that featured 18 to 20 Division I prospects. She later received a scholarship offer from Dykes.
She returned to campus two days later and pledged to the Razorbacks over offers from Kansas State, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas and Nebraska-Omaha.
Spangler's father Shannon lettered as a linebacker at Arkansas in 1989 and her mother Stacy was a Razorbacks cheerleader during the same time.
"They're really big Hog fans," Spangler said.
Spangler said Dykes and his staff work to get the most out of the players.
"The coaches there are all for the players," Spangler said. "Trying to get them to give their best. I feel like as a player you want to be pushed to be the best player you can be."
Spangler plays spring and summer basketball for the Arkansas Banshees, and Lee Shannon, a coach and the director of the AAO Arkansas Banshees, said Spangler is a gritty and talented prospect.
"She's a very tough, real athletic, and competitive kid," Shannon said. " She has a real high ceiling, has a lot of potential to be real special. She's a kid who is always going be the hammer and never the nail, isn't afraid to be physical. Very coachable, with a great attitude."
IN-STATE PROSPECTS
Arkansas has received oral commitments from three of the four in-state football prospects who have been offered scholarships to date.
Offensive lineman Kirby Adcock, 6-5, 282 pounds, of Nashville; athlete Jarrod Barnes, 5-11, 172, 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Cabot; and receiver Koilan Jackson, 6-3, 210, 4.52, of Pulaski Robinson, have made oral commitments to the Hogs.
Ashdown safety Montaric Brown, 6-1, 180, 4.5, will announce his college decision on Aug. 24 and will choose from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Baylor, Auburn and LSU.
Fort Smith Northside 5-11 cornerback Tre Norwood, who has recorded 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, could become a fifth prospect in-state prospect to get an offer from Arkansas.
He attended the All-Arkansas satellite camp at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on June 5 and impressed the Razorbacks coaches.
"They text me back and said he really impressed them and he had improved his standing," Northside Coach Mike Falleur said.
Falluer said he believes some schools are concerned about Norwood's size, but that shouldn't be the case.
"I think Tre is kind of under the radar basically because of his size," Falleur said. "He's worked hard since basketball is over and he's up to 172 or 173 pounds. I think people are starting to see now whether or not if he's big enough or not isn't an issue, and he still has a lot of room to put on weight."
Norwood had scholarship offers from Wake Forest, Louisville and Arkansas State before participating in Samford University's satellite camp on June 11 in Birmingham, Ala. Representatives from about 30 colleges were in attendance.
"He was as good as anyone there out," said Falleur, who estimated there were 100 defensive backs at the camp. "He stuck out."
His performance led to offers extended from Minnesota, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and South Alabama. Others could also join the mix.
"Nebraska and Georgia Tech were there and they wanted to go back and see film of him," Falleur said.
Norwood recorded 28 unassisted tackles, 9 assisted tackles and 7 pass breakups as a junior. Falluer said Grizzlies secondary coach Felix Curry is high on Norwood.
"He's been doing this for a long time and has coached several guys that have gone on to the NFL and he talks about Tre being as skilled as any kid he's ever coached," Falluer said of Curry. "He has a great work ethic, good character, heart and has great grades in school. He's just the total package."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 06/28/2016