Thurs (8/24/17) updates ...

[Kevin McPherson]

Here's today's segment on The Hog Call

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFtXgqgyAZY

* Talked about Josh Leblanc's upcoming visit this weekend. He may be a lock for LSU, but if not, I think Arkansas is ahead of Texas A&M and Georgetown. Just my take. I talked about that as well as what I like about his fit with the Hogs.

* Moses Moody also visiting this weekend, going up on Sunday. If he's not the in-state guy at the top of the Hogs' 2020 wish list, I'd be surprised. He and Chris Moore should be the priorities in-state for that class. Hogs don't typically offer sophomores-to-be, but won't be surprised if Moody gets one soon.

* Talked about Keyshawn Embery moving into IMG Academy this weekend, thus had to reschedule his OV to the following weekend (Sept 1-3).

* Mississippi State trying to set a visit with '18 Hog target Matthew Horton, so they're likely coming into the picture as lone of his 5 OVs. He'll visit the Hogs weekend of Sept 8-10, and if he's not offered before then, I feel like he'll get one during his visit.

* I got to see SW Christian Academy in pick-up games on Tuesday, which gave me a chance to see several of their newcomers ... I talked about that as well.

* Hogs' '17-18 SEC slate was released today. I talked a little about that, including the fact that Arkansas-v-Kentucky at BWA in late February is a good thing. Typically, when those two teams meet only once in a season, it's played in early January. Sets up better for Hogs later in the year = more compelling and CMA teams play their best in the final 3rd of the season.

* I did not talk about CMA's presser that was held at 2 today, but he did reinforce what I've been saying about the Hog newcomers = Gabe is a combo-forward; Darious is a wing/3, and Khalil Garland is a versatile combo guard, can help at the 1, 2, and 3.

[Kevin McPherson]

* Moses Moody -- 2020 SG, NLR / Team SuperStar South -- is currently ranked composite national No. 17 / a 4-star prospect, according to 247Sports ... if he's still in the Top 20-25 by the time he's a senior, he'll be a 5-star. Moses visits Fayetteville on Sunday.

* After reviewing CMA's press conference today, his comments regarding the plan to replace his 6 seniors (consisting of 3 guards, 3 bigs) in the 2018 recruiting class only reinforces my belief (and I've stated this in other threads recently) that they'll look to close the class with 2 more bigs and a guard/wing. With two guards (Isaiah Joe and Desi Sills) and one big (Ethan Henderson) already committed, that leaves 3 scholarships to fill, so it only makes sense that they'd try to maintain the roster balance with 7 scholarship guards/wings and 6 scholarship frontliners.

I still think they'll try to close with a 2-big combo of 6-11 Matthew Horton (PF/C), 6-7 Josh Leblanc (combo-4), 6-7 Reggie Chaney (PF), and/or 6-7 Darius Days (combo-4), plus one guard/wing from the following: 6-3 Keyshawn Embery (CG), 6-4 Keonte Kennedy (CG), or 6-6 Jordan Phillips (wing). Obviously, new and/or old names could surface over the next few weeks, even months, but the ideal 3-player combo to close out the class will be 2 bigs and a guard/wing.

* Got some good quotes today from both Kennedy (visits Sept 8-10) and Phillips (visits Sept 15-17) ... I tweeted those quotes, but to summarize both seem genuinely excited to be visiting the Hogs.  If Arkansas lands either one of them, it will be a quality addition.

[HawgnCorona]

Thanks Kevin.

[blu]

Great updates, thanks.

[Razorod]

I do appreciate it a great deal.

[gmarv]

Thanks Kevin, Good info. as always.

[nwahogfan1]

Great stuff.  These kids are being highly ranked and will be very hard to reel in.  I hope we can bring them in on weekends we play a Football game. 

[imtad16]

How do these guys compare to the name we can not mention on this board? Which of the 3 do we have the best shot at? 6-7 Josh Leblanc, 6-7 Reggie Chaney, and/or 6-7 Darius Days?

[Kevin McPherson]

How do these guys compare to the name we can not mention on this board? Which of the 3 do we have the best shot at? 6-7 Josh Leblanc, 6-7 Reggie Chaney, and/or 6-7 Darius Days?

Nobody compares to him. I'd say Hogs have a better shot with Leblanc and Chaney than Days because they are set to visit. Leblanc may be LSU bound, but like I said on The Hog Call yesterday, if any school is going to lure him away I believe it will be Arkansas. Chaney definitely likes the Hogs, he's visiting, but getting a Texas kid away from TCU and Texas A&M might be tough.

[hdturner]

I like our chances landing both Horton & Phillips. I am not confident on the others. If we don't fill last scholarship hopefully we give to Tim Ceasars in 2019 class.