One of the top high school basketball prospects in the nation, shooting guard Terrance Ferguson, plans to make an unofficial visit to Arkansas because of its coaching staff, style of play and the rabid Razorbacks fan base.
"Especially the fans ... I'm big on a fan base," said Ferguson, who's being recruited by Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and assistant coach T.J. Cleveland. "That's a big part of my recruitment."
Ferguson, 6-6, 185 pounds, of Prime Prep Academy in Dallas, is rated the No. 2 shooting guard and the No. 9 overall prospect in the nation for the 2016 class by ESPN. He played for Mo Williams Elite in the Real Deal in the Rock basketball tournament over the weekend in Little Rock.
"If you have a loud crowd that cheers you on every night and that believes in you, you're going to play hard every game," Ferguson said. "That's what I'm also looking for."
On Twitter, Arkansas fans let Ferguson know he should play his college basketball in a Razorbacks uniform.
"I'm big on social media, and every day someone from Arkansas will like tweet me," Ferguson said. "I look at that kind of stuff. People probably don't think I look at it, but I actually [do] . It's big for me."
Ferguson has more than 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Texas, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma and SMU. He said he has been impressed with Anderson's success in Fayetteville.
"He's a real cool coach," Ferguson said. "He's probably one of the best out there. I can't lie. So I plan to visit Arkansas. They're one of the top schools on my list."
He also excels in the classroom with a little urging from his mother, Rachel Holdman.
"My mom stays on that," Ferguson said. "Oh yeah, if I don't get my grades up, I probably won't touch the floor. "
His mother has told her son education is key and he must maintain a good grade-point average.
"I emphasize with him we come from a very educated background," Rachel said. "My mother has a master's [degree] in education and I have an uncle that's a principal and I have an aunt that's a teacher. So, of course, academics are real important with me. I make sure he's on top of everything and try make sure his grade point falls between a 3.8 and a 3.7."
She has encouraged her son not to limit himself when it comes to picking a school.
"You get one opportunity," she said. "You don't have to stay close to home. Whatever you feel that's comfortable. Live life, go out there."
The engaging and personable Ferguson hasn't always been so outgoing, but over time has become more comfortable with the attention he receives as a top prospect.
"At first, I was a very shy dude. I was just nervous," Ferguson said, smiling. "My first ever interview was probably in the eighth grade. I started early and back then I didn't know what to say."
Rachel said she is also fond of the Hogs and said Anderson and Cleveland are very down-to-earth.
"I think even if my son chose to go to Arkansas, it would be a good fit with the way they run up and down the court and the pace of play," Rachel said. "T.J. has really been recruiting him and Coach Anderson loves him, so I have nothing but good things to say about Arkansas."
Ferguson loves to dance and isn't shy to cut a rug at any moment.
"I probably try to dance every day for 24 hours," he said. "I will dance sometimes during a game. Like if I'm into a game and having fun, I will dance. If one of my teammates looks at me funny, I'll start dancing."
Louisiana prospect
One of the better scorers at the Real Deal in the Rock last weekend is drawing attention from Arkansas and the interest is mutual. Shooting guard Malik Crowfield scored 26 points, hitting six three-pointers, for New Orleans Elite in a 50-41 victory over the Arkansas Hawks on Saturday morning.
Crowfield and Arkansas assistant coach T.J. Cleveland are talking.
"We've been talking since the beginning of the high school basketball season," Crowfield said. "We talk like once a week. He'll text me and see what I'm doing."
Crowfield, 6-4, 170 pounds, of Reserve (La.) Riverside Academy, has scholarship offers from LSU, Baylor, Tulsa, Massachusetts and others. He's also a big fan of Arkansas' uptempo style of play.
"I like how they play man defense and how they get up the floor," Crowfield said.
Crowfield, who averaged 19 points per game for Riverside this season, said Cleveland told him the Hogs will be watching him.
"They're going to evaluate me because they like the way I play, and they want to see me more often," he said.
Crowfield also said he is good friends and high school basketball teammates with receiver Herb McGee, who's drawing interest from the Hogs in football. They might make a trip to Fayetteville together.
"He told me he wants to get me up there to see their facilities," said Crowfield of Cleveland.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 04/07/2015