Musselman praises former Hogs now making waves in the NBA

Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman praises the efforts of former Hogs he coached here now in the NBA.

Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman did a little double-duty in Oklahoma last weekend. Not only did he coach the Razorbacks on Saturday, but he was able to travel south to visit with some former players Friday night.

After Friday’s team practice in Tulsa, Musselman drove the hour and a half down Interstate 44 to Oklahoma City, where he got to watch a trio of former Hogs compete in an NBA game.

Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe were on the court for the Thunder, who faced Moses Moody and the Golden State Warriors.

He got to spend time with all three players prior to the game, in which Oklahoma City won 138-136 in overtime.

“The timing worked out perfectly,” Musselman said. “I rushed over there and got to see all three of our guys — Moses, Jaylen and Isaiah  — and got to talk to them pregame.”

He praised both franchises for specifically allotting the players time to spend with their former coach.

“To show you how professional those two organizations are, all three of those guys had their shooting slots at 5 o’clock, and that probably wasn’t by coincidence,” he said. “Just unbelievable classy organizations.”

Williams actually returned the favor by driving up the following day to watch the Razorbacks play Oklahoma, a game in which they lost, 79-70.

“It was great to see those guys, and just so proud, like all of us are, of all three of them,” Musselman said. “The thing with those guys is that they are the ultimate pros. They are going to be on rosters, because of their attitude and how good they are, chemistry-wise.”

Joe, in his fourth NBA season, is averaging 10 points per game and shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the three-point line, making 56 of 127 threes on the season. Williams, in his second NBA season, is averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, and currently leads the NBA in charges taken per 36 minutes played.

Moody, a third-year pro, is averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, playing in a loaded lineup that includes the likes of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Musselman is proud of how all three players have made their way to the professional ranks, but also with how they have handled themselves, professionally. He said all three are finding their niche for long, prosperous careers in the league.

“Oklahoma City has their stars, but Isaiah has figured out how to get open, and how to be one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA,” Musselman said. “But he has also figured out, ‘Hey, I’ve got to be a great locker room guy.’ ‘I’ve got to be a no-maintenance guy, that shows up on time and gets my reps up.”

“Jaylin Williams has figured out, ‘Hey, I’ve got to be a great ball mover, I’ve got to plug up holes, defensively, and I’ve got to have high energy.”

Musselman acknowledged that Moody’s situation is a bit different with the caliber of team he is on.

“Moses is in a situation where he will go games without playing, then all of a sudden he gets in the game and produces when he gets his minutes,” Musselman said. “He’s in a different situation, because he got drafted on a team that is playing for championships.

“But those three guys are going to have long careers. And taking nothing away from their talent, but they are also great people, and are great professionals. They really understand that it’s a lot more than just making a basket. It’s doing the little things on defense, it’s being a great teammate, it’s standing up and cheering for your team when you are not on the floor. All those things help your longevity in your pro career.”

The coach also praised four more former Hogs who are now making their way in the professional ranks.

Ricky Council IV and Jordan Walsh are both rookies, who are scorching it in the G-League. Council, who is with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-way contract with the Delaware Blue Coats, is fifth in the G-League in scoring, averaging 24.7 points per game. Walsh, who has bounced between the Boston Celtics and their G-League team, is averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Maine Celtics.

“It’s really cool that Anthony Black is starting, and getting a lot of minutes for the Magic in Orlando,” Musselman said. “Then you’ve got two guys in their rookie year in the G-League, both playing great basketball. They are putting up numbers, they’re getting better and getting a lot of reps. And that’s important for a rookie, is to get the reps.”

He also alluded to the progress that another former Razorback, Stanley Umude, is having in the Detroit Pistons organization. Umude has also split time between the Pistons and their G-League team, the Motor City Cruise. His break-out NBA performance came on Nov. 20, when he tallied 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot in a 142-113 loss to the Raptors.

“Stan has been putting up great numbers with the Pistons,” Musselman said. “But then he got sent down to the G-League where he is putting up great numbers. So he is getting great reps when he is not getting run with the Pistons.”

Nov 25, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton (8) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) and forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

WATCH: Former Razorback Stanley Umude has career night in Detroit

Former Razorback guard Stanley Umude had a career night for the Detroit Pistons, one that caught the attention of his former head coach Eric Musselman.

Former Arkansas guard [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag] earned a roster spot with the Detroit Pistons after an impressive preseason. On Monday night, he proved that he can hang in the league when given a chance.

Umude played a season-high 16 minutes in the Pistons’ 120-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors and made the most of it. He finished with 16 points on 5-8 shooting from the field and 4-5 from three while grabbing three rebounds. Without Umude’s shooting, the game would’ve been much more of a blowout.

As you can see from the tweet posted above, Arkansas coach [autotag]Eric Musselman[/autotag], who Umude played for during the 2021-2022 season, took notice.

While Umude only spent one season in Fayetteville, as a grad transfer from South Dakota, he made a huge impact for the Hogs during that season. He appeared in all 37 games that year and helped lead Arkansas to their second-straight Elite 8 appearance.

In the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, Umude put together a memorable performance against Vermont in the first round. Not only did he play all 40 minutes, but he led the team with 21 points (3-4 3PT) and grabbed nine rebounds. He was also the first Razorback to ever play 40 minutes in the NCAA Tournament and not commit a single turnover.

Here’s to hoping we continue to see Umude shine at the NBA level.

Seven Pro Hogs see action in first NBA preseason games

Seven former Arkansas Razorbacks saw significant action in NBA preseason games on Monday night. Here’s how they fared.

Football and postseason baseball typically dominate the October headlines, but what can sometimes get lost in all of that is the beginning of basketball season.

Last week, this year’s Arkansas basketball team put on their annual Red-White Showcase in front of 6,000 fans in Barnhill Arena. This week, former Razorbacks will take the floor as NBA preseason games began on Sunday afternoon and Monday night.

[autotag]Patrick Beverley[/autotag] (Sixers), [autotag]Ricky Council IV[/autotag] (Sixers), [autotag]Isaiah Joe[/autotag] (Thunder), [autotag]Bobby Portis[/autotag] (Bucks), [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag] (Pistons), [autotag]Jordan Walsh[/autotag] (Celtics) and [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] (Thunder) all got their first taste of playing time ahead of the NBA season.

Anthony Black (Magic), Dan Gafford (Wizards), Moses Moody (Warriors), Nick Smith Jr. (Hornets) will all be in action later this week.

Here’s a look at how each of those seven Pro Hogs that played already have fared.

Stanley Umude, Detroit Pistons agree to Exhibit 10 deal

Umude joins Jaylin Williams as members of last season’s roster to earn a chance to compete at the next level.

After the thrill of the NBA Draft settled, one former Razorback signed a free agent deal with an NBA franchise.

[autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag], who spent one season at Arkansas following a four-year career at South Dakota, has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Detroit Pistons.

The deal means that Umude will receive a one-year, league-minimum salary that will count towards the team’s 20-man roster. However, the contract can be altered to become a two-way contract, where Umude would split time between the Pistons and their G-League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.

In one season at Arkansas, Umude scored 11.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and shot 72% from the free-throw stripe in 37 games, making 26 starts.

Umude thrived against SEC competition. He scored over 20 points in six games last season, with five of them being against conference foes. His best game of the season came against Georgia on February 2, where he dropped 31 points in 36 minutes of action.

Umude joins [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] as players from last season’s roster to earn a chance to play at the next level. Williams was drafted 34th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Umude plays key role in first game of Portsmouth Invitational

In his first game at the Portsmouth Invitational, Stanley Umude played a key role in his squad’s double-overtime win

On Wednesday, JD Notae began his stay at the Portsmouth Invitational, a week-long tournament that features 64 of college basketball’s top seniors and gives them the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of NBA and International Scouts, and he proved why he is one of the best guards in the country by scoring 16 and grabbing nine rebounds.

Thursday, it was [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag]’s turn to shine.

Umude, who competes for Mike Duman Auto Sales alongside Isaiah Whaley of UConn, Fabian White of Houston, and Alex Barcello of BYU, among others, helped his squad secure the 81-77 double-overtime win over Portsmouth Partnership by hitting two free throws near the end of the game.

Umude finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds, being one of four players to reach double digits in the game.

The second game of Umude’s week will take place Friday at 6 p.m. CT against Sales Systems, Ltd., which is headlined by Josh Carlton of Houston.

For more information on the Portsmouth Invitational, including schedules, results, and broadcast information, visit PortsmouthInvitational.com.

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Anthony Black sets official signing date

Arkansas fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Anthony Black has set a date to sign with Eric Musselman’s program.

Since the beginning of the offseason, head coach [autotag]Eric Musselman[/autotag] has hit the recruiting trail hard and has seen positive results.

Despite losing talents such as [autotag]JD Notae[/autotag], [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag], and [autotag]Au’Diese Toney[/autotag], Arkansas Basketball has signed players from the Transfer Portal that have the skills to reload as the Razorbacks head into the 2022-23 season.

One of the key commitments that has not put pen to paper yet, is five-star guard from Duncanville, Texas, [autotag]Anthony Black[/autotag].

Black, who committed to Arkansas on March 28 during the week of the McDonald’s All-American game, joined Nick Smith and Jordan Walsh as fellow All-Americans and five-star pledges to commit to the program. The issue is that he has yet to sign.

Arkansas fans can now breathe a sigh of relief, as Black announces that he will sign his letter of intent on Wednesday, April 20, at his high school according to Richard Davenport of WholeHogSports.com.

Black is ranked as the No. 1 point guard in the nation, and the No. 2 overall prospect from the state of Texas. According to 247sports, Black received 21 offers, and took visits to six different programs.

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Notae scores big in first game of Portsmouth Invitational

To prepare for the NBA, JD Notae is getting one last chance to be a collegiate athlete at the Portsmouth Invitational in Virginia.

In his curtain call as a collegiate athlete, [autotag]JD Notae[/autotag] is making a statement to NBA scouts.

Notae, as well as [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag], are competing in the Portsmouth Invitational this week in Portsmouth, Va. alongside 62 of the best seniors in college basketball.

This week, Notae is competing on the K&D Rounds Landscaping squad alongside Garrison Brooks of Mississippi State, Terrell Brown Jr. of Washington, and Brandon Horvath of Utah State, among others. In his first game of the invite, Notae scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds in K&D Rounds Landscaping’s 107-103 loss to Roger Brown’s on Wednesday.

Notae will compete again Thursday afternoon against Jani-King, which is headlined by Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim.

As for Umude, his first game will tipoff at approximately 8 p.m. CT. Umude is competing for Mike Duman Auto Sales, and is teammates with players such as Isaiah Whaley of UConn, Fabian White of Houston, and Alex Barcello of BYU.

For more information on the Portsmouth Invitational, including schedules, results, and broadcast information, visit PortsmouthInvitational.com.

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Notae, Umude invited to compete in Portsmouth Invitational

JD Notae and Stanley Umude get one more chance to compete as collegiate athletes.

Two of the major players in Arkansas Basketball’s success during the 2021-22 season will compete one more time as collegiate athletes.

Senior guards [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag] and [autotag]JD Nota[/autotag]e have been invited to compete in the Portsmouth Invitational that will be played April 13-16 in Portsmouth, Va. CC McCandless of Pig Trail Nation reported the news.

According to the Portsmouth Invitational website, 64 of the best college basketball players, who are seniors, from across the nation participate in a four-day, twelve-game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. NBA greats such as John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, and Jimmy Butler have competed in this event during its 67-year history.

The selection process is also explained on the website as well:

  • Players must certify that they have not been “paid to play” in any basketball game or tournament in accordance with NCAA By-Laws 2-3(I).

  • Players are selected for invitation to the PIT by the Player Selection Committee.

  • The PIT considers players from NCAA Divisions I, II and III; as well as NAIA for inclusion in the tournament.

  • When a player is selected, an invitation is sent to the men’s basketball office at their school. They are given a deadline to respond in order to reserve their spot in the tournament. Failure to respond by the deadline may result in the player being dropped for consideration and another player being invited in his place.

Both transfer student-athletes, Notae and Umude both contributed greatly to Arkansas’ successful season that ended with their second consecutive Elite 8 appearance.

In his only season as a Razorback, Umude averaged 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. For Notae, he emerged from being a solid bench option to one of the most valuable pieces to Arkansas’ success by leading the team in points with 18.3 points per game. Notae appeared in 36 games in 2021-22, starting in 35 of them.

Arkansas adds another big man from transfer portal: Graham from Arizona State

Arkansas has reloaded in the frontcourt this offseason and its latest portal commit has the Hogs ranked No. 1

Arkansas’ frontcourt has gone from question mark in 2022-23 to likely strength.

The Razorbacks added a fourth player via the transfer portal on Thursday when former Arizona State forward [autotag]Jalen Graham[/autotag] committed to Arkansas. He follows brothers from Rhode Island, Makhi and Makhel Mitchell and former Missouri forward [autotag]Trevon Brazile[/autotag].

Graham, who is 6-foot-9, was a second-team All-Pac 12 player last year for the Sun Devils. He averaged 9.9 points and 4.6 rebounds for Arizona State in his junior season. Graham has two seasons of eligibility left, one of which comes from the COVID-19 exemption by the NCAA.

Graham was a four-star prospect ranked No. 169 in the country when he committed to the Sun Devils in the Class of 2019.

Arkansas lost forward [autotag]Stanley Umude[/autotag] to exhausted eligibility, center [autotag]Connor Vanover[/autotag] to the transfer portal and forward Au’Diese Toney to the NBA draft. Forward [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] also declared for the draft, but chose not to hire an agent, leaving him eligible for a return next season.