Daniel Gafford is a Hog

[OnTheHillHogFan]

According to Eric Bossi on twitter

[Hawg Red]

Great news. Locked up (as much as you can) early.

Feels good to get a top in-state guy, honestly.

[ricepig]

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2015/aug/01/gafford-commits-hogs/

[cubsfan5150]

Sweet, nice offer list

[poloprince]

Sweet  :razorback:

[Razorod]

WPS! Great get. Hopefully the beginning of several good commitments.

[Music City Hog]

Nice!  Needed some good news.

[hdturner]

We needed some good news about basketball team after rough July. Go Hogs!!!

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

I thought Mike was a horrible recruiter and that we should just drop basketball.

Finally a point in time where Arkansas basketball fans can tell the haters to EAT CRAP and Disappear!

[yraciv]

I thought Mike was a horrible recruiter and that we should just drop basketball.

Finally a point in time where Arkansas basketball fans can tell the haters to EAT CRAP and Disappear!

I''m not one to harp on his recruiting ability and I'm all about waiting to see how this years class plays out....But the obvious answer on this one is in state kid who grew up a Hog fan. That is why he committed quickly after getting the offer.

[azhog10]

I''m not one to harp on his recruiting ability and I'm all about waiting to see how this years class plays out....But the obvious answer on this one is in state kid who grew up a Hog fan. That is why he committed quickly after getting the offer.

That shouldn't devalue how huge his commitment is however.

[greasy_corner]

 :razorback:

Great news. 

[Breems]

Class of 2017
Power Forward
6'9, 217 lbs.
Ranked 98th in the nation by 247's composite score

Offer list includes Kansas, Florida, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Virginia Tech among others.

[Hawg Red]

Believe Scout has him at #39.

[-Blu]

Great News on this commit.  Should end up being a top 50 recruit on most sites.  Nice start to both 2016 and 2017 class. 

[The Hogfather]

Huge!

[Thepigdoctor]

Great get, well done by the staff, congrats to this young man for getting to live out a dream. Let's just hope we've got a bunch more great players from the '16 class he'll be joining. WPS!

[yraciv]

That shouldn't devalue how huge his commitment is however.

Oh no doubt! Just wish there were more in state kids like him.

[WarPig88]

So far the last two commits we have gotten are top notch players. Hope they can continue to bring in these types of kids.

[RazorAg]

Believe Scout has him at #39.

Yeah, and that 247 composite score will go up later this month.

[farmhawg]

I''m not one to harp on his recruiting ability and I'm all about waiting to see how this years class plays out....But the obvious answer on this one is in state kid who grew up a Hog fan. That is why he committed quickly after getting the offer.

The only thing he ever saw from the program was crap until MA. So don't piss on the commitment Mike got it on his own.

[TomBigBeeHog]

Great pick up! Nice to have another Arkansas kid to cheer for. Hoping one day to have an all Arkansas starting five. Us against the world baby! Thanks Gafford for being a Hog.    :razorback: :razorback: :razorback: :razorback: :razorback:

[choppedporkextrasauce]

Great news. This kid is just starting to reach his potential.

[ricepig]

Great news. This kid is just starting to reach his potential.

Yeah, what little I saw of him during the high school season he is still raw, but athletic.

[RazorAg]

Yeah, what little I saw of him during the high school season he is still raw, but athletic.

Yeah, and what we all saw before about 1.5 months ago is very different than what he's doing now. We saw a development spike like this with Portis around the same stage.

[TomBigBeeHog]

Yeah, and what we all saw before about 1.5 months ago is very different than what he's doing now. We saw a development spike like this with Portis around the same stage.

Do you see similarities between his game and Portis at this stage? Also, does he score more around the rim or does he like to face up as well?

[Danny J]

Great....now to start filling the 2016 class.

[-Blu]

Yeah, and what we all saw before about 1.5 months ago is very different than what he's doing now. We saw a development spike like this with Portis around the same stage.

I seen Gafford play at the warm-up a few months ago.  He didn't really have a great performance then.  But, he was noticeable, because he was playing with 16U looking like a college player physically.  I actually didn't know who he was then, I remember asking Dudley about him.  And kinda kept an eye out for him after that, very good to see him progress and be a top player in his class.  He actually reminds me a lot of Ted Kapita.  Imagine our starting front court with those 2. 

[RazorAg]

Do you see similarities between his game and Portis at this stage? Also, does he score more around the rim or does he like to face up as well?

No, they're pretty different skill-wise. Portis started out more skilled facing up and developed his back to basket game to what it is now. Gafford isn't as skilled in total as Bobby was at the same stage; but he's more aggressive around the rim, stronger, a better rebounder and a better shot blocker. So, they're development paths will be different. But, they both play really hard and can run the court.

[ricepig]

No, they're pretty different skill-wise. Portis started out more skilled facing up and developed his back to basket game to what it is now. Gafford isn't as skilled in total as Bobby was at the same stage; but he's more aggressive around the rim, stronger, a better rebounder and a better shot blocker. So, they're development paths will be different. But, they both play really hard and can run the court.

He definitely can run the court, more of a Kingsley than a Portis to me.

[RazorAg]

I seen Gafford play at the warm-up a few months ago.  He didn't really have a great performance then.  But, he was noticeable, because he was playing with 16U looking like a college player physically.  I actually didn't know who he was then, I remember asking Dudley about him.  And kinda kept an eye out for him after that, very good to see him progress and be a top player in his class.  He actually reminds me a lot of Ted Kapita.  Imagine our starting front court with those 2. 

His confidence was lower at that event. Something clicked a few months ago.

[Hogimus Prime]

If the Hogs can get Kapita in school then get Curry and Smith with Gafford the frontcourt will be scary

[navyhog24]

Just think if we got Vanover in the same class

[TomBigBeeHog]

Just think if we got Vanover in the same class

Think he is 2018 but I agree, he would be a great get.

[spahoopsfan]

Think he is 2018 but I agree, he would be a great get.

Vanover and Ethan Henderson are in the same class.

[TomBigBeeHog]

Vanover and Ethan Henderson are in the same class.

Ok, great news. Hopefully we get both.

[TomBigBeeHog]

Gafford had a crazy stat line in the championship game at the Rumble on the Ridge. He had 36 pts, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals and 2 assists. Hogs getting a really good one here.

[opineonswine]

EXCELLENT

[Rawker]

Gafford had a crazy stat line in the championship game at the Rumble on the Ridge. He had 36 pts, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals and 2 assists. Hogs getting a really good one here.

Contrary to what people think, Mike will actually get some of the No 1 players in the state.  Has had Portis, he'll have Gafford.  Yes, Monk is a top in the nation whereas those guys might not be (have been), but there is always the next guy, and the Hogs will get many of them. I saw Macon in HS and if he would have been able to go directly to D1, he would have been the best prospect in the state that year and would have been a Hog, but no one said much about that.  He's a Hog now.  So, with the JUCOs coming in, including Macon, Gafford coming, Whitt still on the team and probably Beard....I personally think it's going to be sweet.  This year will be tough....just bad luck, IMO....I know it's not worth saying, but if Qualls is still on this team, they're undefeated right now and contending for 2nd/3rd best in the conference.  Oh Qualls....how we could have used ye.

[-Blu]

I saw Macon in HS and if he would have been able to go directly to D1, he would have been the best prospect in the state that year and would have been a Hog, but no one said much about that.  He's a Hog now. 

Macon definitely flies under the radar as a top recruit from Arkansas.  I remember the first time I heard about him, it was on another board, a guy was always talking about him saying he was the best prospect in the state and was better than Beard and Allen.  At the time, I just thought the guy was bragging on one of his friend's kid or something like that, but I later read RD and Dudley report on him, and started paying attention and followed his progress in JUCO, and it's clear had he been eligible after high school, he would have been a guy a lot of schools went after.

[Jonteviosk]

Can we plz get some updated stats for all 3 of our JUCOs coming in60% of next years starting 5. next year?

[The_Iceman]

Big game last night for him:

https://twitter.com/ADGtim/status/699833486119579648

[yraciv]

Can we plz get some updated stats for all 3 of our JUCOs coming in60% of next years starting 5. next year?

Google is kind, but since I'm in a giving mood.

http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/darylmaconns40
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/jaylenbarfordwpvg
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/arlandocookbs58

[The Hogfather]

Google is kind, but since I'm in a giving mood.

http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/darylmaconns40
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/jaylenbarfordwpvg
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/players/arlandocookbs58

Ouch.  Looks like Macon hit a 3-point shooting wall.  Last 6 games he's 7-33 (21%).  Quite a difference from his 1st 6 games, where he went 20-34 (59%), including an 8-10 performance in 20 minutes in their 1st game of the season.

[klp1]

Ouch.  Looks like Macon hit a 3-point shooting wall.  Last 6 games he's 7-33 (21%).  Quite a difference from his 1st 6 games, where he went 20-34 (59%), including an 8-10 performance in 20 minutes in their 1st game of the season.

Link is to the stats from the prior year, not the current season.

[The Hogfather]

Link is to the stats from the prior year, not the current season.

Oh!  I just assumed they were updated stats on our recruits, since that's what the guy asked for.

[The Hogfather]

Link is to the stats from the prior year, not the current season.

This season actually looks fairly similar:

http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2015-16/div1/players/darylmacon8la9
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2015-16/div1/players/jaylenbarfordf5n6
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2015-16/div1/players/arlandocookc7dd

[jseinfeld50]

Macon definitely flies under the radar as a top recruit from Arkansas.  I remember the first time I heard about him, it was on another board, a guy was always talking about him saying he was the best prospect in the state and was better than Beard and Allen.  At the time, I just thought the guy was bragging on one of his friend's kid or something like that, but I later read RD and Dudley report on him, and started paying attention and followed his progress in JUCO, and it's clear had he been eligible after high school, he would have been a guy a lot of schools went after.

He was known as one of the best and arguably the best in the state as a scorer and shooter by many people who saw multiple Parkview games but being only 6' then and eligibility issues kept his name out of the limelight.

[klp1]

repost

[The_Iceman]

Some recent game highlights of Gafford:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiEcN47hHAg