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Vanover hits transfer portal, creating another hole Musselman can fill
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas forward Connor Vanover has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
As a redshirt junior, he appeared in 15 games with 10 starts for the Razorbacks this season and averaged 3.9 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Vanover is the latest to explore his options in the portal, joining Chance Moore and KK Robinson. He announced the decision on his Instagram account Wednesday morning.
View this post on Instagram
Vanover spent his freshman season at California before transferring to the Hogs.
After sitting out during the 2019-20 season, he averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2020-21 for the Hogs in 29 games while making 27 starts. He played just 7.5 minutes per game during the 2021-22 season and just 11 minutes total during conference play.
From ArkansasRazorbacks.com:
2020-21 (So. at Arkansas):
• Was rated the 44th-best “Sit-Out” Transfer in the Nation by ESPN.com for the 2020-21 season.
Named to the 2021 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll … Played in 29 games with 27 starts … Ranked 5th SEC / 35th NCAA in blocked shots (1.82) and was 26th in NCAA / 3rd SEC in total blocked shots (51) … 1 of 3 players in the NCAA to have at least 50 blocked shots and 20 3-pointers made … In fact, Vanover the first Arkansas player with 50+ blocks and 20+ 3’s made in a season and only nine other Hogs have reached those levels in an entire career (HogStats.com) … Only missed one free throw for the season (his 20th attempt) and was 20-of-21 for the season … Over the last 10 regular-season games, had 25 blocked shots (2.5 avg.) and he shot 36% (9–of-25) from 3-point range over the final 11 regular-season games … In his Razorback debut versus Mississippi Valley State, had a game-high 23 points — one shy of his career high — and tied a then career-high with eight rebounds … Drained 4-of-5 from 3-point range and added three blocked shots … 23 points ties for third-best production by a Razorback in his debut since 1980 … Only scored six points versus North Texas, but had a career-high 16 rebounds and tied his career-high with six blocked shots … Only Razorback on record to have as many as 16 rebounds and six blocked shots in a game … Only SEC player to have 16 and 6 since in a game since Kentucky’s Anthony Davis had 16 and 6 (ironically with just six points too) in the 2012 national championship game … Scored 12 points in just 12 minutes versus UT Arlington, making 5-of-6 shots, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range … Was just 2-of-8 from the field (all 3-pointers) versus Lipscomb but had a game-high nine rebounds with four blocked shots in just 15 minutes played … Only scored three points vs Southern (a 3-pointer) but had nine rebounds (all defensive) with three blocked shots and a career-high three steals … Had his second carer double-digit rebound game with 10 versus Central Arkansas (nine defensive) … Added nine points and two blocked shots … Pumped in 17 points, making 6-of-6 from the free throw line, at Auburn with five rebounds … Contributed 12 points and seven rebounds at Tennessee, making 5-of-9 FG and 1-of-3 3PT … In the win vs Ole Miss, only scored eight points, but effected the game in may ways … Had a team-best seven rebounds (only had 10 in previous five games) and blocked five shots (only had five in his previous 10 games) … Played all 20 minutes of the second half and 28:45 for the game (only played 40 total minutes his previous five games including 18 at Vandy) … For the second straight game, had five blocked shots (all in the second half) at Oklahoma State … Led Arkansas with 13 points versus Mississippi State, adding eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals … Played all 20 minutes of the second half versus the Bulldogs with 11 points, six boards, both steals and all three blocked shots … Made four field goals and scored 12 points at Kentucky … Sank 2-of-4 3-pointers and had two dunks … Snapped an eight-game streak with no free throws by going 2-of-2 … Recorded two blocked shots … Had 12 points and two blocked shots at Missouri … Struggled early (zero stats in 4:07 playing time in the first half) … Played 18:26 of the second half and scored all 12 of his points (5-of-6 shooting overall and 2-of-3 from 3-point range) with two assists … Served as a strong presence in the middle at South Carolina with six rebounds and four blocked shots.
2019-20 (So. at Arkansas):
Sat out the season per NCAA transfer rules … Named to the 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
2018-19 (Fr. at Cal):
Averaged 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds during his freshman campaign … Played 28 games and started 15 … Came on strong to end the season as he averaged 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds over his final 10 games … Included in the 10-game span was a career-high 24 points versus Stanford and eight boards against Southern California … Led the team with 35 blocked shots and shot 35.5 percent from 3-point range (27-of-76).
High School/Prep:
Began his high school career at Arkansas Baptist Prep before transferring to Findley (Nev.) Prep for his senior season … At Findley, he was a teammate of current Razorback Reggie Chaney and averaged 8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 1.3 steals. He helped the Pilots to a 32-5 record and a No. 26 national ranking … At Arkansas Baptist Prep, Vanover led the Eagles to a three-year record of 82-21 with three league crowns and back-to-back Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) Class 4A state titles (2016 and 2017) … Tallied more than 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 300 blocks while being a two-time USA Today All-Arkansas selection (2016 and 2017), the 2016 Arkansas Class 4A State Tournament MVP and a three-time Arkansas 4A All-State pick (2015, 2016 and 2017) … Vanover was a member of Team USA’s U16 and U17 squads and captured a gold medal at the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina after averaging 3.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in four games.
PERSONAL:
Born June 23, 1999, in Little Rock … Son of Chris and Robyn Vanover … His mother, the former Robyn Irwin, was a member of the University of Arkansas women’s basketball squad from 1986-89 and led the Razorbacks in blocked shots three times … Has two older brothers, twins Brandon and Justin. Brandon (7-0) played basketball at Central Arkansas and Justin (7-1) played saxophone with the Alabama Crimson Tide marching band … Majoring in communications.
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Leach hits for cycle, Diamond Hogs coast to midweek win over UCA
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas asserted its dominance over in-state foe Central Arkansas, scoring in every inning with an unexpected cycle to beat the Bears 21-9 Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Entering the game with just one hit in 22 at-bats, sophomore catcher Dylan Leach recorded a single, a double, a triple and a home run to hit for the third cycle in Arkansas history and the second in as many seasons.
Second baseman Robert Moore accomplished the feat against Central Arkansas last year as a sophomore, and it had not been done before that since 1994.
For the second straight midweek game, the Razorback starter struggled mightily.
After settling the game against UALR down last week, junior righty Miller Pleimann recorded just one out in his start, allowing three Bears to score on four hits. Arkansas got one back in the bottom of the frame, cashing in on two errors by second baseman Reid Bowman, but the hit parade began in the second.
Freshman designated hitter Kendall Diggs led off with a double to left field and scored along with freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall on a triple by Leach.
He scored on a single by sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace, who came around on a double by Moore. Senior right fielder Brady Slavens drove in the fifth and sixth runs of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left-center after both fielders collided.
The Bears cut the deficit to two runs in the third, making Zack Morris and Heston Tole pay for two walks and a pair of infield singles. Both runs were charged to the junior lefty Morris, and the sophomore righty Tole went on to pitch a scoreless fourth.
Arkansas stretched the lead to six runs in the bottom of the third on a no-doubt grand slam by senior center fielder Braydon Webb. The Hogs hit two more home runs in the fifth, a solo shot by sophomore left fielder Jace Bohrofen — his first as a Razorback — and another by Stovall.
With the first three legs of the cycle complete, Leach roped a laser beam just over the right field fence for the home run to cap it off. With a 16-5 lead, Moore and Slavens each delivered RBI triples to make it a 13-run game.
After scoreless frames from senior righty Elijah Trest and freshman lefty Nick Griffin, freshman right-hander Nick Moten allowed four runs in the seventh, but the Razorbacks were not done scoring.
Senior shortstop Jalen Battles became the ninth starting position player to get a hit with a solo homer to left, and Leach went yard again for his fifth hit, fifth RBI and fourth run of the game, bringing the Arkansas run total to 20.
Sophomore righty Mark Adamiak struck out the side in the top of the eighth, before Bohrofen belted his second homer of the game to make it 21-9. Freshman right-hander Austin Ledbetter sealed the victory with a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 ninth.
The Hogs will return to action at 5 p.m. Thursday in Gainesville, Florida, for the first of three games with the Florida Gators. Senior right-hander Connor Noland will get the start for the Razorbacks in the opener, which will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Toney puts name into NBA Draft, but no idea about agent
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has lost another player to the NBA Draft … if Au’Diese Toney signs with an agent.
View this post on Instagram
On Monday, Jaylin Williams announced he was going to explore his options but that included not signing with an agent so he would retain his eligibility with the Razorbacks.
That came on the heels of JD Notae declaring his intention to enter the draft over the weekend.
He finished the year averaging 10.5 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting from the field and a career-best 78.1 percent mark from the free throw line, while also pitching in 5.2 rebounds per game.
Toney won MVP honors at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City (Mo.) in November for his efforts in wins over Kansas State and Cincinnati, logging a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over No. 1 Auburn and put up 22 points and 10 boards in Arkansas’ win over LSU at the SEC Tournament in Tampa (Fla.).
It was not immediately clear whether Toney hired an agent, which would end his college eligibility. He tagged the sports agency The Familie in his post.
Part of Tuesday’s “way-too-early” ranking that had the Hogs as the No. 1 team in the nation hinged on either Toney or Williams coming back and now, apparently, that is down to just Williams’s decision.
Expectations will be high with the No. 2 recruiting class in the country coming to Fayetteville with Nick Smith, Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh, Derrian Ford and Joseph Pinion headed here.
With Toney’s choice, they’ll all have to play apparently.
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ESPN puts Razorbacks at No. 1 in ‘way-too-early’ projection
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In three seasons, Arkansas has gone from the hunter to the hunted.
Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman will be starting next season with clean air in front of him after ESPN projected them to be the No. 1 team headed into the 2022-23 season.
If Hog fans needed something to get them going for next year, there it is.
This is, of course, one of those way-too-early projection things we get the day after one championship is decided.
Kansas fans probably are nursing the hangover from an exhausting comeback win over North Carolina on Monday night.
Now Arkansas becomes a target for the first time since Nolan Richardson’s teams were playing for national championships in the early 1990’s.
And Musselman has done it in three seasons.
It appears he might have to be doing it with an almost completely new lineup after Jaylin Williams announced Monday he’s going to find out if he’s a high pick for the NBA Draft.
A lot of guesses have him gone.
Which will leave the Hogs with three freshmen likely in the starting lineup.
Incoming freshman Nick Smith is getting some buzz about being the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. The Hogs landed Anthony Black a couple of weeks ago when he turned down Gonzaga and Jordan Walsh is another one that could be a one-and-done.
“There are some roster questions, mainly focused on Jaylin Williams and Au’Diese Toney, but if one of the two returns, I think this is the best team in the country,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello wrote in the story.
Maybe more surprising than the Hogs being the No. 1 team is Houston at No. 2. Talk about things going back to the 1980’s when Eddie Sutton and Guy Lewis were at the top of the national rankings every year and playing twice a season in the Phi Slamma Jamma days.
The ESPN story had a projected Razorbacks’ starting lineup that would look like this:
Projected starting lineup:
Nick Smith (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
Devo Davis (8.3 points per game)
Anthony Black (No. 20 in ESPN 100)
Jordan Walsh (No. 10 in ESPN 100)
Au’Diese Toney (10.5 points per game)
The rest of the way-too-early lineup had the usual suspects you can shake every year and roll out there with Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, etc.
Get ready, it’s going to be an interesting buildup to a season.
If the football team meets expectations, things could get downright crazy.
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