By Harry King
LITTLE ROCK — To illustrate an old phrase, the horse is the sum of Rickey Scott, Mardracus Wade, Marvell Waithe and Ricardo Ratliffe, and the cart is Ky Madden, Hunter Michelson and Aaron Ross.
In the context of Arkansas basketball, coach John Pelphrey needs his new recruits to be productive before fans worry about whether he can land the talented homegrown trio that will enroll in college in September 2011.
The Razorbacks made documented progress this year even though the 7-9 Southeastern Conference record feels like a bust because of the 0-6 finish. What’s next is the question.
Nobody has said that Pelphrey must do better than 7-9 in the SEC next year, but he knows more is expected. A league record above .500 and a spot in the NCAA Tournament is reasonable.
That is where Scott, Wade, Waithe and possibly Ratliffe come in. The first three have signed with Pelphrey. Ratliffe, a good friend of Razorback Marshawn Powell, was on the Arkansas campus last week. The standout from Central Florida Community College had said previously that he thought he could step in immediately for departing Michael Washington. He has a body two years removed from high school — 6-8, 240 — and a large reputation.
Pelphrey did everything but call Ratliffe by name Thursday night after the Razorbacks were eliminated from the league tournament.
“We’re excited about who we’ve recruited,” he said. “We’re excited about who we’ve got a chance to recruit …”
Personally, it’s wait and see with all new recruits, but junior college transfers in particular. The fact that Cincinnati, Missouri and Clemson wanted him to visit is positive. For Pelphrey, so is the fact that Ratliffe visited Arkansas and Alabama and canceled the other trips.
On top of that, he was straightforward when he told an Ocala, Fla., newspaper: “I can’t come off the bench being a junior. It’s not like coming out of high school. I’m looking to start right away.”
With Washington gone, the Vacancy sign is up at Arkansas.
That Scott and Wade are both 6-foot-3 guards is more impressive than their plump scoring averages. With 5-10 Courtney Fortson, 6-0 Rotnei Clarke and 6-1 Julysses Nobles, it is difficult for Arkansas to get a hand in the face of a 6-3 or 6-4 shooting guard and just as difficult to fire over them.
Scott and Wade are supposed to be good enough to give Pelphrey needed flexibility, even to the point of bringing Rotnei Clarke off the bench. With or without Ratliffe, Waite should complement Powell inside. If Ratliffe is on board, Pelphrey has even more options.
“I hope we’ll be able to get a little more chaotic with our style of play,” Pelphrey said Thursday night. Against Georgia, the easiest baskets came off six steals by Nobles and Marcus Britt.
Questioned after Pelphrey’s post-game news conference, athletic director Jeff Long said the same thing he said before the Razorbacks went on a five-game winning streak and after they lost five in a row — that Pelphrey is the coach and will be next year.
Certainly, Long worked with Pelphrey on the early-season disciplines, knowing that the absences would affect the W-L record. He may have even told the coach that he had his back.
Since we’re talking about the future, the trusted judgment of former coach Nelson Catalina is included as a tease. Both Madden and Michelson are from his corner of the state. “I think,” he said, “both could play in the NBA if they continue to work hard.”
First comes the horse.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
