Little Rock Parkview junior forward Ethan Henderson publicly committed to Arkansas on Monday, becoming the fifth starter on the 16-under Arkansas Hawks to pledge to the Hogs.
By all accounts, no spring and summer basketball team has ever had all five starters commit to the same school.
Henderson, 6-9, 190 pounds, picked the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from LSU, Notre Dame, Indiana, Texas and Arizona State. Hoopseen.com rates him the No. 43 overall prospect in he nation for the 2018 class.
The other 16-under Hawks committed to the Hogs are junior forward Reggie Perry, 6-10, 225, of Thomasville, Ga.; guard Isaiah Joe, 6-2, 170, of Fort Smith Northside; guard Desi Sills, 6-1, 170, of Jonesboro; and sophomore point guard Justice Hill, 5-11, 160, of Little Rock Christian.
"We're going to have a great bond, even more in college because we already know each other and it will likely add up to us being even a better team," Henderson said. "We're going to try and go for a [national] championship."
Henderson said his mother, Eileen, being able to watch him play and being reunited with his brother, Eric, who is a sophomore art major at Arkansas, played a big role in his decision.
"I wanted to stay to home so my parents and family can come and see my games," Henderson said.
Eileen Henderson, who's in management at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, said the decision to be a Razorback was solely up to Ethan, but admits she was happy with his choice.
"I just encouraged him as far as the dedication to his home state," she said. "His brother ... I know the last thing he said before he left to go to back to school was, 'I want you to come to school with me.'
"I'm happy I'll get to see his games, most of his games, and that was his main concern."
Perry is rated the No. 9 junior prospect in the nation by hoopseen.com. The Hogs join North Carolina with two commitments from the top-50 prospects in the 2018 class.
Numerous other schools were showing interest in Henderson, including Kansas, Virginia Tech, Tulane and Florida State. Most recently, North Carolina also reached out.
The transition to college should be smooth because Henderson will be playing a similar style in Fayetteville.
"They're just like the Hawks and Parkview," Henderson said. "By going to the Hogs, I'm going to the next level, but it's the same style of play and it's a good fit."
Henderson told Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson of his decision Sunday.
"He was excited," he said. "He was very excited. He said. 'Welcome aboard and we're excited to have you as a part of the family.' "
Bill Ingram, the Arkansas Hawks' founder and coach, said Henderson and the other Hawks are a unique group.
"We've never had a group like this in the state," he said. " It's going to be a joy watching them have another two to three years of high school and spring and summer basketball before the moving on to the Razorbacks. Being a part of history is something special."
Ingram also said Anderson, Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins and the rest of the UA staff did an excellent job of recruiting Henderson and the other Hawks.
"Coach Watkins and Coach Anderson laid that foundation immediately after they got to Arkansas four years ago," Ingram said.
Henderson is Arkansas' fourth commitment for the 2018 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
Sports on 09/06/2016