Another 2017 kid getting a look...Kenny Wooten

[Swinesong1]

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/player/201612/kenny-wooten-remains-wanted-man

[Swinesong1]

Six-foot-eight power forward Kenny Wooten sat out because his coach wanted him to rest. Wooten has seen his recruitment picked up recently and has had a dozen schools come through in the last month or so.

Wooten hasn't taken any official visits but definitely plans on getting to Kansas, Arizona State and Oregon. He's had high interest from Arizona, Cal and USC and Arkansas is the most recent school to offer. "I definitely plan on cutting my list down this month," he said. "Probably to a top five or six and then I'll take my visits from there."

[mhuff]

If Scotty is on him, we have a chance .

[Swinesong1]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DgAisyIzYRKM&ved=0ahUKEwjk_rK00PnQAhVY82MKHQh1CzQQwqsBCCkwBA&usg=AFQjCNF1EBzqaIwhIxri_NSzJYEaBhzZ8g

[The_Iceman]

https://youtu.be/60i4nitRuSw

[The_Iceman]

Looks good. Just not sure the 4 is a position of need in 2017.

[Kevin McPherson]

Six-foot-eight power forward Kenny Wooten sat out because his coach wanted him to rest. Wooten has seen his recruitment picked up recently and has had a dozen schools come through in the last month or so.

Wooten hasn't taken any official visits but definitely plans on getting to Kansas, Arizona State and Oregon. He's had high interest from Arizona, Cal and USC and Arkansas is the most recent school to offer. "I definitely plan on cutting my list down this month," he said. "Probably to a top five or six and then I'll take my visits from there."

Read the linked article in the OP and did not see that the Hogs have offered him, only that the Hogs had watched him? I might have missed it, but I read through it a couple of times.

[Swinesong1]

Read the linked article in the OP and did not see that the Hogs have offered him, only that the Hogs had watched him? I might have missed it, but I read through it a couple of times.

The linked article is older than the "offer" quote.  That quote came during a tourney currently being played. 

[Kevin McPherson]

The linked article is older than the "offer" quote.  That quote came during a tourney currently being played.

Gotcha, do you mind linking it?

[nwahogfan1]

Looks good. Just not sure the 4 is a position of need in 2017.

Boy I do,   That spot needs to get more talented, bigger and more physical.   Once we get into sec play that position will get exploited.

[hogwood]

Awesome to hear. He'd be a good fit for us next season.

[hogwood]

Could have used him tonight vs. TX.

Looks like as of a month ago his top 5 is:

1. Kansas
2. Oregon
3. Arizona St.
4. California
5. DePaul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D97F7kH52iU

[outlawhogeywells]

cant have to many quality bigs.  6'8" and can jump fits the Arkansas system perfectly. 

[Swinesong1]

Reminds me of the kid who was at LSU a couple of years ago.  Jordan Mickey.  Leaper n shot blocker.

[hogwood]

Per Jeff Borzello he's just committed to Arizona State.

[MemphisBossHog]

Boy I do,   That spot needs to get more talented, bigger and more physical.   Once we get into sec play that position will get exploited.

completely agree.  In SEC play, the Hogs routinely get manhandled on the boards against teams like Ole Miss, who usually have manly power forwards and centers.  They just move us out of the way and get every rebound.  I remember Nolan making the statement that rebounding was a misleading statistic and just because his teams may have been outrebounded, it didnt mean much and it appears that Mike agrees with this, but I think we need some muscle and girth and length under the boards at times. 

[The_Iceman]

completely agree.  In SEC play, the Hogs routinely get manhandled on the boards against teams like Ole Miss, who usually have manly power forwards and centers.  They just move us out of the way and get every rebound.  I remember Nolan making the statement that rebounding was a misleading statistic and just because his teams may have been outrebounded, it didnt mean much and it appears that Mike agrees with this, but I think we need some muscle and girth and length under the boards at times.

I'm not too worried about a lack of rebounding unless it comes from a lack of hustle. I don't mind if we aren't as strong as other teams inside, because we are usually a leaner team. But we need to be a fiesty, hustling rebounding team, especially on the offensive end.

[spahoopsfan]

Looks good. Just not sure the 4 is a position of need in 2017.

We need someone that can defend down low and rebound.  I'm not sure we have that for next year

[Kevin McPherson]

We need someone that can defend down low and rebound.  I'm not sure we have that for next year

Daniel Gafford says hello. Averaging 19.4 rebs and 8.9 blocks per game at El Dorado (and 20.2 pts).

[The_Iceman]

Daniel Gafford says hello. Averaging 19.4 rebs and 8.9 blocks per game at El Dorado (and 20.2 pts).

Not sure how he forgot our prized recruit.
https://twitter.com/ArRecruitingGuy/status/810265751458381824

[Hawg Red]

For those that have seen both extensively in high school, who is the better player coming out of high school between Bobby Portis and Daniel Gafford. Those numbers for Gafford are jaw-dropping.

I know a lot of people probably think Gafford is too thin or might not be ready to really step in for Moses right away, but from what I am seeing of college basketball right now, Gafford is very much the modern college big man.

[Kevin McPherson]

For those that have seen both extensively in high school, who is the better player coming out of high school between Bobby Portis and Daniel Gafford. Those numbers for Gafford are jaw-dropping.

I know a lot of people probably think Gafford is too thin or might not be ready to really step in for Moses right away, but from what I am seeing of college basketball right now, Gafford is very much the modern college big man.

Both 6-10 and highly regarded in HS, but apples and oranges as players. Bobby was an offensive player who ran the floor harder than many guards but he had limited athleticism and limited defensive potential. Daniel is a plus-athlete with 7-2 wingspan who's gifts currently make him a beast defensively (volume rebounder and shot-blocker), but he's still very raw offensively and tends to not run the floor from end to end like you saw with Bobby.

Both are 6-10 and gifted, but almost polar opposites as players. For the college game, I give the edge to BP transitioning from HS because of his offensive gifts. For long-term -- talking pro game -- I think Gafford has the higher ceiling. Remember, Bobby earned SEC POY and AA as a sophomore at Arkansas, and a lot of that was due to him being able to score the ball basically at all 3 levels as a big.

[HawgHeadCheese]

I think Gafford compares more to Kingsley with more athleticism.

[nwahogfan1]

Daniel Gafford says hello. Averaging 19.4 rebs and 8.9 blocks per game at El Dorado (and 20.2 pts).

I love Gafford but he is a 5 at Arkansas.  We need bigger and more physical 4s to help the 5.  That is if you want to win more SEC games and get deeper in the T.

[outlawhogeywells]

We need a 5 so gafford can play the 4

[OnTheHillHogFan]

We need a 5 so gafford can play the 4

Gifford is a 5

[hogwood]

We need a 5 so gafford can play the 4

Gafford is a 5 anywhere. Kid is 6'10"-11". What we need is a 4 to bolster our post game or we need a 5 so that TT can move to the 4.

[WooPig90]

Gifford is a 5

Never heard of him

[Big Nasty 34]

We need a 5 so gafford can play the 4

Has Gafford shown any resemblance of an offensive game outside of the lane? He is a 5 every day and then some, especially in Mike's system.

[The_Iceman]

We need a 5 so gafford can play the 4

Thank goodness you aren't a coach. Gafford is a prototype Mike Anderson 5. Actually, he is a 5 for any team. He may be thin, but so was Marcus Camby.

Gafford is a more skilled athlete than Moses Kingsley. Moses is a raw athlete, but Gafford can dunk is ways Moses only dreams of.

[The_Iceman]

I love Gafford but he is a 5 at Arkansas.  We need bigger and more physical 4s to help the 5.  That is if you want to win more SEC games and get deeper in the T.

I really like Grant Williams from Tennessee as a mold for a fit around Gafford. Could even go with someone more skilled like a Marshawn Powell type that is 6'6", but can rebounds and stretch the floor.

Hopefully Cook continues to develop (and Thomas). I think Bailey has tons of potential as an undersized 4 as well, who can rebound and finish with authority.

[Kevin McPherson]

As most have already pointed out, Gafford is a 5 in our system and any system. If he adds any kind of pet move/shot down low and develops just a decent face-up mid-range shot, he could end up a 2-and-done.

[outlawhogeywells]

We don't play a "5"  our post men are out on the floor (just watch the games) we play athletic forwards. 

[mhuff]

Thank goodness you aren't a coach. Gafford is a prototype Mike Anderson 5. Actually, he is a 5 for any team. He may be thin, but so was Marcus Camby.

Gafford is a more skilled athlete than Moses Kingsley. Moses is a raw athlete, but  Gafford can dunk in ways Moses only dreams of.

We need inside scoring. Plus blocked shots and rebounds often result in quick baskets on the other end.

[Swinesong1]

Heeeeeeee's baaaaaack...

[Kevin McPherson]

Heeeeeeee's baaaaaack...

Swinesong, will you modify your subject line with his name? So many recruiting threads now it's getting confusing.

[ArkansasI]

Not sure, but Kenny may get the Kansas offer he was hoping for...

[NWAHog479]

Not sure, but Kenny may get the Kansas offer he was hoping for...

Does Kansas have an offer available now that they have the Lawson brothers?

[azhog10]

Unless they have a transfer or take a scholly away I don't see how. The have three seniors, and then signed the Lawson brothers and also Billy Preston and Marcus Garrett. Now if Jackson leaves (which I would imagine he will) then they still have no open scholly's. So not sure how they could even pull that off unless they take something away or someone transfers out.

[Swinesong1]

Unless they have a transfer or take a scholly away I don't see how. The have three seniors, and then signed the Lawson brothers and also Billy Preston and Marcus Garrett. Now if Jackson leaves (which I would imagine he will) then they still have no open scholly's. So not sure how they could even pull that off unless they take something away or someone transfers out.

I'd be shocked if Jackson didn't declare.  They currently have all 13 filled. That would free up the one they need. But, I think Self is chasing a PG to round out the class.