The fourth annual Battle of the Border on Dec. 2-3 will feature two Razorback signees and two commitments and other prospects, as well as some of the top basketball teams from central Arkansas and the Memphis area.
The three previous Battle to the Borders were one night events, but director Bill Ingram wanted to expand the field.
"We have a total of 11 games in two days," Ingram said. "We try and get the best teams from Arkansas and the best teams from the Memphis area."
The first day is at Little Rock Parkview and will tip off with Southwest Christian Academy of Little Rock and Genesis Academy of Memphis at 5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson attended a Southwest Christian Academy game Oct. 29 to scout senior forwards Mladen Armus, 6-10, 215 pounds, and Gabriel Osabuohien, 6-8, 215.
Armus is drawing interest from Arkansas, Missouri, UALR, Creighton and Vanderbilt, while Osabuohien is receiving interest from Arkansas, UALR, Western Kentucky and St. Bonaventure.
Sophomore point guard Justice Hill, an Arkansas commitment, will lead Little Rock Christian against Westwood of Memphis at 7 p.m. Warriors junior forward Kalin Bennett, 6-9, 230, is committed to UALR.
Little Rock Parkview and Arkansas guard signee Khalil Garland, 6-6, 190, and Hog junior forward commitment Ethan Henderson, 6-9, 190, will take on Whites Creek, Tenn., and three-star senior forward Ruot Monyyong, 6-10, 190, at 8:15 p.m.
ESPN rates Garland the No. 12 small forward and No. 55 overall prospect for 2017 and Henderson the No. 18 power forward and No. 60 overall prospect for the 2018 class.
Patriots junior forward Caleb Stokes, 6-8, 250, is drawing interest from TCU. Horned Frogs Coach Jamie Dixon visited Stokes at the school Tuesday. Senior forward Jovan Franklin, 6-6, 190, is drawing interest from numerous schools while freshman guard Moses Moody, 6-3, 160, is a promising prospect.
"The unsung hero of the group is Jovan Franklin," Ingram said. "Every school in the country has shown interest. A lot people are interested in seeing Moody, a ninth-grader, play for the first time."
Games Dec. 3 at Little Rock Hall will begin at 11 a.m. with Jacksonville Lighthouse playing Power Center of Memphis.
Lighthouse freshman Gerald Doakes, 6-2, 160, is a highly regarded guard who played for the 14-under Team Portis Wings during the spring and summer. Ingram, who is the executive of the Arkansas Hawks and Real Deal in the Rock basketball tournament, said Doakes could be a special player.
"The kid has a lot of tools, and they say he's a gym rat," Ingram said.
At 12:30 p.m., Little Rock Episcopal and freshman guard Khalen Robinson, 6-0, 145, will play Westwood.
Ingram is high on Robinson, who played for the 15-under Arkansas Hawks.
"He's going to be big time," Ingram said. "When he's done, he's going to be as good as any guard we've had."
Little Rock Fair and Whites Creek will play at 2 p.m.
Little Rock Christian will do battle with Memphis Bolton and senior forward Morgan Garner, 6-7, 200, at 3:30 p.m.
Little Rock Hall will take on Memphis Mitchell, which has won three consecutive Class A state titles in Tennessee, at 5 p.m. Arkansas forward signee Darious Hall, 6-6, 210, and Mills will be paired against Memphis Kirby and senior point guard Desmond Johnson at 6:30 p.m.
ESPN rates Hall a four-star prospect while Johnson, 6-0, 175, has scholarship offers from Oral Roberts, Tennessee State and Evansville.
The talented Parkview squad will tip off against Olive Branch, Miss., and highly recruited sophomore forward D.J. Jeffries in the featured game at 8 p.m.
ESPN rates Jeffries, 6-7, 190, the No. 3 small forward and No. 4 overall prospect for the 2019 class. He has scholarship offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Iowa State and others.
"A lot of people compare him to a young Paul Pierce," Ingram said. "He's a special, special player, so that will be a good matchup."
The Patriots won the Class 6A state tile last year and are the favorite to do the same this season.
"They're arguably the No. 1 team in Arkansas if you look at what they did last year and look at what they have coming back this year," Ingram said.
For additional information, go to Realdealborderbattle.com.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 11/20/2016