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8 2021 NWA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | 11.7.2021 FROM STOOL PATROL TO COURT CONTROL TRANSFER STANLEY UMUDE HAS ELEVATED HIS GAME TO ELITE LEVEL SCOTTIE BORDELON NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FAYETTEVILLE — During South Dakota's 2017-18 season, Stanley Umude often stepped onto the court on game days understanding he had a specific assignment. Many of his older, more-veteran teammates were game-in and game-out asked to do the things that were integral to winning — take and make shots, grab rebounds, defend with purpose. Umude's task was much different. Many players in today's game might consider it menial. He still remembers that stretch of his college career like it was yesterday. "I was pulling out stools at games my freshman year," Umude recalled. That year, playing time was scarce. He averaged 3.4 minutes and 1.1 points per game and minimally impacted winning on a team that won more games than any other in the program since 2004-05. It would be the last time Umude was on stool duty. "It hasn't been easy," he said. "But I always saw the bigger picture and never really got too down on myself. I always believed in myself, even if I wasn't particularly playing as much as I wanted to. It was just knowing that I was going to believe in myself and just waiting my turn until my time came." Fascinating describes his journey, one in which he experienced the valleys of a low-usage player only to reverse his fortunes through hard work and become one of the best and most-utilized talents in college basketball. In his final season at South Dakota, he finished as one of the top 10 scorers in the country. Now at Arkansas as one of third-year coach Eric Musselman's key additions from the NCAA transfer portal, Umude has an opportunity to flourish into a full-fledge star and household name, and guide a Razorbacks team with Final Four aspirations. "It's exciting," the 6-6 Umude said. "We like that pressure. I know the guys coming back from last year, we've been talking about that rage that they have from not making it. They're not satisfied with the Elite Eight appearance, and I can tell. "It's just fun to be around guys like that with all the same mindset that is trying to work toward that common goal. It's definitely the most talented team I've been a part of." A gifted three-level scorer, Umude had what he described as one of the best individual summers of his career. Adding to his ball-handling package and becoming a deadlier shooting threat topped the priority list. From a team perspective, he fit in and hit the ground running, transitioning fairly seamlessly as a result of previously suiting up for Todd Lee, a former Musselman assistant coach at the CBA level. The coaches are similar in their intensity and what they like and don't like when it comes to the intricacies of the game, Umude noted. "He's had a great summer. He's probably been the one guy that's by far been the best-coached coming in," Musselman said. "Like, he knew a lot of the habits and a lot of the terminology that we use. I think he's had a little bit less of an adjustment maybe than some of the other new guys from a practice habits standpoint. "But I think he's actually improved even in his practice habits as well." Sophomore guard Davonte Davis, a preseason All-SEC second-team selection by the league's media and coaches and the face of this Arkansas team after a stellar finish to Year 1, is high on what Umude brings to the table, particularly as a scorer. Believed by some that Umude would be the plug-and-play replacement for Justin Smith, Davis shot down comparisons to the two players' games. He possesses some Smith-like qualities on the offensive end, NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. Wampler Stanley Umude looks to drive to the basket. The senior graduate transfer from South Dakota is expected to play a major role for the Razorbacks this season.