NWADG Basketball

13 2022 NWA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | 11.6.2022 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MAKHI MITCHELL CLASS Senior HEIGHT 6-9 WEIGHT 230 POSITION Forward HOMETOWN Washington, D.C. HIGH SCHOOL Woodrow Wilson HS LAST SEASON Averaged 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while playing 31 games as a junior at Rhode Island. THE SKINNY Mitchell transferred to Arkansas in the offseason from Rhode Island where he spent two seasons after playing his freshman year at Maryland. He led Rhode Island in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game last season, while chipping in 1.39 blocks per contest. His seven double-doubles were sixth-most in the Atlantic-10. His twin brother Makhel transferred with him from Rhode Island. KAMANI JOHNSON CLASS Senior HEIGHT 6-7 WEIGHT 230 POSITION Forward HOMETOWN Brooklyn, N.Y. HIGH SCHOOL Holy Sprit (Ga.) Prep School LAST SEASON Averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing in 26 games as a redshirt junior. THE SKINNY Johnson played his first season with the Razorbacks in 2022 after transferring from Arkansas-Little Rock. He established himself as a tenacious, hard-nosed force down low, averaging the most rebounds per game among players who played under 30 minutes per contest. During his sophomore season with the Trojans, Johnson was a third-team All-Sun Belt selection after averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds. His older brother, Dakari, played for Kentucky. CADE ARGOBAST CLASS Junior HEIGHT 6-3 WEIGHT 180 POSITION Guard HOMETOWN Concord, Calif. HIGH SCHOOL De La Salle HS LAST SEASON Earned a scholarship after starting the season as a walk-on, and saw the floor in four games. THE SKINNY Argobast played a season at Lane (Ore.) Community College before coming to Arkansas as a walk-on. He averaged 10 points while shooting 40% from beyond the arc in high school. MAKHEL MITCHELL CLASS Senior HEIGHT 6-10 WEIGHT 240 POSITION Forward HOMETOWN Washington, D.C. HIGH SCHOOL Woodrow Wilson HS LAST SEASON Averaged 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 31 games at Rhode Island. THE SKINNY Mitchell transferred to Arkansas in the offseason after leading Rhode Island in scoring and blocked shots as a junior. His 2.39 blocked shots per game led the Atlantic-10 and was 25th-most in the NCAA. He spent his freshman season at Maryland before playing two years at Rhode Island. His 5.6 rebounds per game trailed only his twin brother, Makhi, who transferred to Arkansas with him. DERRIAN FORD CLASS Freshman HEIGHT 6-3 WEIGHT 205 POSITION Guard HOMETOWN Magnolia, Ark HIGH SCHOOL Magnolia HS LAST SEASON Averaged 23.1 points and 6.3 rebounds as a senior at Magnolia HS, which he guided to three Class 4A state championships. THE SKINNY Ford is a consensus 4-star guard in the 2022 class, and the third-highest recruit in the state of Arkansas. ESPN listed him as the No. 71 overall prospect, and his stellar varsity career landed him a McDonald's All-American nomination. Ford was twice named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All- Preps first team (2021 and 2022), and he was the Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year in both those seasons. He was he 2022 4A State Tournament MVP after leading the Panthers to an unblemished 30-0 season, capped with his 29 points in the state title game. LAWSON BLAKE CLASS Sophomore HEIGHT 6-10 WEIGHT 225 POSITION Forward HOMETOWN Fayetteville, Ark. HIGH SCHOOL Fayetteville HS/Link Year (Mo.) Academy LAST SEASON Earned a walk-on spot with the team and saw the floor in five games. THE SKINNY Blake played his senior year at Link Year (Mo.) Academy, after previously playing for Fayetteville High School. He averaged 13 points and seven rebounds as a senior, and walked on to the Arkansas basketball team. • No more leaves, pine needles, debris or squirrels • The gutter that never clogs... GUARANTEED! • Patented one-piece system • Keep gutters running free and clear of clogs • With many attractive colors, you'll love the way it looks Call 479-221-9599 for Current Promotions LeafGuard is a slam dunk! 479-221-9599 | 888-419-4906 www.leafguardandmore.com Best of Northwest Arkansas the B A S K E T B A L L

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