Gafford’s legacy: Super athletic, under-utilized on mediocre Hogs’ teams

Some of you are pretty critical of the poll questions that are generated by the folks at “The Morning Rush” and “Halftime.”

Too critical, but that is par for the course in the day of the “Keyboard Cowboy.”

There was a great one this week asking how Daniel Gafford will be remembered at Arkansas. It’s a timely question because Gafford’s departure to the NBA Draft is a foregone conclusion, and Arkansas’ season is almost over barring an unforeseen miracle that would include running the table at the SEC Tournament.

So, the answer? Two parts. Unbelievable athleticism and untapped potential. There’s a reason Gafford is a stone-cold lock, first-round pick. His freakish athleticism and 6-foot-10 frame make NBA scouts salivate. His dunks on the break are off the charts.

However, Gafford was never near as dominant at Arkansas as he should have been. There’s two-reasons. Last year, he had to share the ball with two talented upperclassmen guards in Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon.

He averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds as the third option. He had a nice debut and made Hogs fans optimistic about this season.

However, most knew this year could be tough because Gafford was the most experienced player returning as a sophomore. The new faces really had a hard time getting the ball to him. There were too many times this year when inexperienced Arkansas guards took ill-advised shots instead of getting the ball to Gafford.

I blame coach Mike Anderson for not being more demanding on those players to get the ball to him. A simple threat of benching should have done the trick to make them more aware of the weapon they had sitting on the block.

Do you think Nolan Richardson would have put up with those shots, including role-playing big man Gabe Osabuohien shooting 2-of-13 beyond the arc? That was 13 3’s too many.

But not putting Gafford in good position is Anderson’s fault, too.

Gafford hasn’t taken one 3-point shot in his time on The Hill. He rarely gets the ball on the perimeter.

Coaches should have had him working all summer on his perimeter skills, developing an outside shot, including a three-pointer, and devising a way to get him the ball in more places on the floor than just the block and then having him prepared to unleash moves at those points to either get to the basket or hit a teammate open on the perimeter or flashing to the basket.

The Hogs are too predictable in the half-court and didn’t use Gafford’s talents enough this season. He has still managed to score 16.6 points per game and haul in 8.4 rebounds.

If you are keeping score at home, that is a 14 ppg average for his career so far and 7.2 rebounds. He also averaged 2.1 blocks per game.

However, when you compare him to big-time Hogs greats, he doesn’t register much. He has one NCAA Tournament appearance and was unable to push his team to a higher level when he was the main option even though that is not all the fault of his own.

Advertisement

A great player in a mediocre period of the program’s time being drafted on his potential and athleticism. Look for him to develop the jumper at the NBA level and really make Hogs fans wish what might have been.