Arkansas Basketball: Can Daniel Gafford lead the young Razorbacks back to the Big Dance?

The young freshman forwards for Arkansas

In the frontcourt, Arkansas adds the trio of Reggie Chaney, Ethan Henderson, and Ibrahim Ali.

Chaney is originally from Tulsa but played at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas. The 6-8 forward averaged 11 points and seven rebounds and put up similar numbers during the summer playing for RM5 and during Peach Jam. As a senior, he put up 15 points per game and grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game leading the team to a 32-4 record. He is a high-level rebounder that gives Arkansas someone to pair with Gafford as an inside scoring threat.

Gafford says Chaney, “Is going to be a real threat on the inside and a real threat on the boards.”

Henderson is the state of Arkansas’ top recruit according to ESPN. The 6-9 big man played at Parkview high school in Little Rock alongside Garland, leading the team to a 5A state title. As a senior Henderson helped his team defend its title and averaged 14 points and six rebounds for the Arkansas Hawks alongside fellow recruit Isaiah Joe.

“He’s going to be a threat on the outside and the three-point line. He attacks the basket like a bowling ball, whatever is in his way he tries to go through.” Is the scouting report on Joe according to Gafford.

Ali is a native of Nigeria who has only been playing basketball since 2014, but at 6-10 and 265lbs he certainly fits the part. An alumnus of Maumelle High School in Arkansas, the big man is a project offensively but could be used immediately as a rebounder and defender to give Gafford some breaks.