Arkansas’ Layden Blocker in action during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Another day and another Razorback enters transfer portal.
Word broke in the early afternoon Thursday that freshman guard Layden Blocker of Little Rock had joined Devo Davis, who announced his departure Wednesday, in the transfer portal. Davis is also considering pursuing professional basketball but keeping his collegiate options open, other than returning to the Razorbacks, it would seem.
Previously guards Joseph Pinion and Keyon Menifield, and forward Denijay Harris announced their plans to transfer.
Will there be more? Your guess is as good as mine.
As far as we know, guards Khalif Battle and Tramon Mark, forward Trevon Brazile, and center/forward Baye Fall intend to return. Freshmen guards Jalen Shelley (6-8) of Frisco, Texas and Isaiah Elohim (6-5) will join them in the summer.
That leaves six scholarships for head coach Eric Musselman to use to round out his roster.
If there is a player in the portal he and his staff loves, they could strike quickly. They have plenty of roster spots to work with, but with three weekends left in the NCAA Tournament, the transfer market is just developing.
Every year since NCAA transfer regulations loosened, surprising players have transferred. It would be a shame to miss out on a stud player by doling out the scholarships too quickly.
But then again, if there is a talented player who is a good fit, particularly chemistry-wise, why wait? Go ahead and sign him rather than miss out.
AP Photo/Joey Johnson)One thing is for sure, we’re going to see how much of an edge Arkansas Edge, the Razorbacks’ latest NIL collective, will actually provide for the basketball program.
Musselman knows the type of player who fits his program better than I ever will, but if I were him, I’d be looking for a tough-nosed point guard who can distribute and defend, maybe two of them. Then I’d be looking for toughness, strength, and size with the forwards and centers.
The Razorbacks got out-physicaled too often this season in SEC play and against the teams in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
There was enough talent on the team this year to be an above .500 team in SEC play, but the toughness and grit seemed to be lacking.
