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Member FDIC People come together around the court. And in the community. That's why First Security is your go-to financial partner. We're local. Loyal. Ready to help you win. What's your better? Get there with us. Relationships A R E B U I L T O N E - O N - O N E . her around the court. And in the People come togethe at's why First Security is your go-to community. That's tner. We're local. Loyal. Ready to help y y p financial partne p What's your better? Get there with us. you win. Wh People come together around the court. And in the community. That's why First Security is your go-to fi nancial partner. We're local. Loyal. Ready to help you win. What's your better? Get there with us. Sunday, November 4, 2018 5 Northwest Arkansas Basketball "No pressure at all," Gafford said of the high draft expectations. "I just try to remain as humble as I possibly can, because added pressure can take you out of your game." ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes, a former Razorbacks walk-on guard for coach Ed- die Sutton and former Arkansas wom- en's coach, said the NBA scouts he has talked with have Gafford going in the top 12 of the draft. "He's a phenomenal athlete for his size," Dykes said. "He can twist and con- trol his body and move like a guard. "So now Arkansas has to figure out, how do we move him around and keep a defense off of him? Because he's obvi- ously going to be the No. 1, 2 and 3 guy on the scouting report before they start talking about anybody else." Dykes said Arkansas' newcomers will need to shoot well to keep defenses from collapsing around Gafford. "If not, I can just see Daniel being swallowed up and surrounded defen- sively all game long, but hopefully that won't be the case," Dykes said. "He's a rare, rare kid that really can change a game on both ends. "If you just said, 'Pick one guy in this league to start your team with?' There would be a bunch of coaches — and probably me as well — that would say, 'I'll take Gafford first.' " Bilas said he expects Gafford to be a more efficient player this season. "Often times when you're older, you pick your spots better and the game slows down for you, and I think that will happen for Daniel," Bilas said. "His leadership is going to be tested because he's dealing with a lot younger team. "So he's going to have put his arm around all these young guys and take them along with him, and he's fully ca- pable of doing that." Anderson said Gafford has become a vocal leader for a team that doesn't have any seniors. "I've seen a difference in Daniel," An- derson said. "He's more outgoing and talkative now. He's leading by example every day in practice." Gafford will face plenty of talented big men in the SEC. Among those pro- jected to go in the NBA draft by various websites include LSU 6-10 freshman Naz Reid; Mississippi State 6-10 senior Aric Holman; Kentucky 6-10 freshman E.J. Montgomery; Auburn 6-11 junior Austin Wiley; Alabama 6-9 senior Donta Hall; and Vanderbilt 6-10 freshman Simisola Shittu. Western Kentucky, which will play at Arkansas this season, is led by 6-11 fresh- man Charles Bassey, also a projected first-round pick. "I know people are going to come at me as hard as they possibly can," Gaf- ford said. "I'm just going to stay calm, cool and collected and be ready to play every night." Despite all of the preseason praise and accolades Gafford is receiving, he said doesn't see himself as being a star player. "I basically just want to play ball," he said. "People can say I'm the guy and all that, but we're a team. "So I don't really single myself out at all. Being a team is going to take us a long way this year." v Continued from preceding page NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/J.T. WAMPLER Arkansas' Daniel Gafford drives to the basket while Louisiana State's Duop Reath de- fends Jan. 10 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.