Tag: ProHogs

Former Hogs great Corliss Williamson heading back to coach in NBA

Corliss Williamson is headed to the NBA after a few years at Arkansas. Sounds like 1995 again.

Corliss Williamson is leaving Arkansas for the NBA.

Again.

The former Arkansas basketball great was hired as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Previously, Williamson had been an assistant for the Sacramento Kings (2013-16) and Orlando Magic (2016-18).

Williamson had been coaching Little Rock Christian Academy in Arkansas high school basketball. He had been coaching his son Creed at that level, but with Creed Williamson moving on Little Rock, formerly UALR, to play college basketball, Williamson is heading back to the NBA.

Williamson played 12 years in the NBA from 1995-2007 after leaving Arkansas after his junior season for the professional ranks. With the Razorbacks, he was named an All-American and SEC Player of the Year twice. He also led the Hogs to the 1994 national title and the 1995 national-title game.

Williamson started coaching  in 2007 at Arkansas Baptist College, then head coaching at Central Arkansas from 2010-13. After his time with the Bears, he moved to the NBA, then back to the Natural State when Creed Williamson entered high school.

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Pro Diamond Hogs: How former Arkansas players are faring in MLB – June 18

Heston Kjerstad is pushing to be a big part of the Orioles’ future while Hogs already in The Show keep plugging away.

Our weekly update of how former Arkansas baseball players are doing or have done in in the Major League this year continues today.

As of Sunday, eight former Diamond Hogs were on MLB rosters. Some have been there a long time and some are just starting their careers. And that doesn’t count those who have tasted the bigs this year, too, which we’ll also track.

On top of that, we’ll list the guys below – in text – who are just around the corner from their first cups of coffee.

But for now, let’s look at those who have stuck around in 2023 with the images and captures.

Pro Diamond Hogs: How former Arkansas players are faring in MLB – June 11

Eight former Hogs are in the majors and a couple are mighty close and killing it at Triple-A.

Our weekly Sunday update of how former Arkansas baseball players are doing or have done in in the Major League this year kicks off today.

As of Sunday, eight former Diamond Hogs were on MLB rosters. Some have been there a long time and some are just starting their careers. And that doesn’t count those who have tasted the bigs this year, too, which we’ll also track.

On top of that, we’ll list the guys below – in text – who are just around the corner from their first cups of coffee.

But for now, let’s look at those who have stuck around in 2023 with the images and captures.

Dominic Fletcher earns first call-up to Major League Baseball

Former Arkansas outfielder Dominic Fletcher is making his first trip to The Show after raking at Triple-A.

The Arizona Diamondbacks called up former Arkansas outfielder Dominic Fletcher for the team’s series finale Sunday against Colorado.

Fletcher, who is making his first trip to The Show, was hitting .323 with an on-base percentage of .417 and slugging .523 at Triple-A Reno. Ostensibly, Fletcher is taking the place of outfielder Jake McCarthy who was optioned to Reno on April 25. The official corresponding move was Arizona sending Anthony Misiewicz.

Fletcher was named Arizona’s No. 13 prospect entering the season by The Athletic’s Keith Law. The Diamondbacks selected Fletcher out of Arkansas in the second round of the 2019 draft. His brother, David, has spent most of the last four seasons as the Los Angeles Angels’ starting second baseman.

Fletcher slashed .298/.360/.497 during his three years in Fayetteville from 2017 to 2019. He was not in the Diamondbacks’ starting lineup Sunday and will likely serve as the team’s fourth outfielder.

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Watch: Former Hog Bobby Portis, Gator Udonis Haslem bow up in Bucks’ loss to Heat

Bobby Portis was goaded into a heated exchange with Udonis Haslem on Wednesday night.

Losing stings. But when you think you’re taking lip from a 42-year-old guy off the bench on top of losing, things can get ugly.

Former Hog and current Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had such an exchange Wednesday night.

During the second quarter of the Bucks’ eventual Game 5 loss to Miami, benches cleared when Portis and long-time Heat center Udonis Haslem traded words. Officials stepped in before things became too chaotic, but the heat was clear.

 

The Bucks were eliminated about 90 real-time minutes later. Portis may have entered miffed considering Milwaukee was the No. 1-seed in the Eastern Conference.

Portis averaged 14 points and almost 10 rebounds a game during the regular season. A technical foul to him was the last thing Milwaukee needed.

Haslem is in 20th year in the NBA. You don’t have a career that long without knowing a thing or two about the mental aspect. Especially true when you haven’t played in more than 16 games in a season since 2016 and haven’t been a regular starter since 2013. Literally 10 years.

Regardless, the Gator beat the Hog on Wednesday.

Former Arkansas star Chris Smith dies at age 31

Smith is fourth all-time in Arkansas history in sacks. He played eight seasons in the NFL.

Former Arkansas defensive end Chris Smith died this week at age 31.

Smith played for the Razorbacks from 2010-13, registering 21 1/2 sacks, fourth most in school history and earning second-team All-SEC honors his final season.

His collegiate career enabled him to be selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Smith played eight seasons in the NFL with Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Houston. He played most recently in the XFL with Seattle.

Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed initial reports of Smith’s death on Twitter.

“Rest in Peace Chris,” Rosenhaus wrote on Twitter. “Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you.”

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Former Hogs golfer earns entry into Masters with first PGA Tour win

Former Arkansas golfer Taylor Moore will play for golf’s most prestigious jacket next month after winning Valspar.

Taylor Moore’s lung collapsed four years ago, just over a year after he left the Arkansas golf team.

Now, he’s a millionaire headed to the Masters.

Moore, 29, won his first PGA Tour event Sunday, shooting a 10-under par, one stroke better than Adam Schenk to capture the Valspar Championship. He birdied his final 10 holes, but had to wait on Schenk to finish.

Schenk hit his tee shot into the trees then left himself a 41-foot putt for par. He had to have that score on that hole to force a playoff with Moore. The ball hit the lip of the cup and rolled out, providing Moore with his first win.

Moore is in just his second full season at the PGA level, earning his tour card after finishing fourth on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021. At Arkansas, Moore was named a 2016 All-American. He also won the Saguaro Amateur in 2014.

Moore’s cut of the purse for the Valspar Championship was almost $1.5 million. The win also earned him automatic qualification into the Masters Tournament, which will take place April 6-9.

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Former Hogs star Peyton Hillis expected to make full recovery after swimming incident

Peyton Hillis spent more than a week in the hospital and was in intensive care and on a ventilator.

Peyton Hillis is one of the most beloved Arkansas players of the 21st century. The Conway native and CHS graduate had a stellar career with the Razorbacks as part of a backfield with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the mid-to-late 2000s.

On Tuesday, the Hogs great took to Twitter to update his condition following a swimming incident just after New Year’s Day. Hillis was hospitalized after he reportedly rescued some family members after an accident off the coast of Pensacola.

“I left the hospital with no worries and concerns and should make a 100% recovery. I’m a very lucky and blessed man,” Hillis wrote on Twitter.

According to reports, Hillis was in intensive care and on a ventilator after the incident. He was released from the hospital in mid-January.

Hillis play four years with the Razorbacks from 2004-07. He ran for 960 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 118 passes for 1,197 and 11 touchdowns.

Those numbers helped him get drafted in the seventh round of 2007 NFL Draft by Denver. He spent two seasons with the Broncos before joining Cleveland. His first year with the Browns, Hillis 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns, which earned the cover of the Madden video game the following year.

Hillis retired officially in 2015 after injuries became a factor.

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Former Hogs star Dusty Hannahs named to Team USA

Former Arkansas sharpshooter Dusty Hannahs will represent the United States as they try to qualify for the World Cup.

Dusty Hannahs was a sharpshooter for his two seasons at Arkansas. The only thing that’s changed from that sentence is that he’s no longer at Arkansas.

Hannahs was one of 12 players named to United States’ Men’s World Cup Qualifying roster on Tuesday. He will play with Team USA for two games during the squad’s final qualifying window against Uruguay and Brazil on February 23 and February 26. The United States needs just one win to automatically qualify for the World Cup.

Hannahs has spent this season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League. In 28 games, with 20 starts, he has averaged 17.3 points per game playing 31 minutes a night. 

During his two seasons with the Razorbacks, Hannahs led the team in scoring both years, averaging 16.5 points and 14.4 points per game while shooting 41% from 3-point range and almost 90% from the free-throw line in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. 

Arkansas made the NCAA Tournament during Hannahs’ senior season. The Razorbacks lost by seven points in the second round against No. 1-seed and eventual national champion North Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina.

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