By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Mike Anderson will see a familiar face wearing a Tennessee uniform tonight – forward Jarnell Stokes.
The freshman, who graduated from his Memphis high school a semester early and joined the Volunteers in January, considered Arkansas during the recruiting process. Anderson said he has known Stokes since he was a freshman in high school, but the relationship didn’t help the Razorbacks land the talented player.
Stokes, instead, chose to stay in-state and play for the Volunteers. He has made an instant impact, too, averaging 8.3 points and 7.1 rebounds a game since making his debut in a 65-62 loss against then-No. 2 Kentucky on Jan. 14.
“You look at him and sometimes there’s some visions of Corliss Williamson,” Anderson said. “I remember when Corliss came in and his game just evolved, evolved to where he started facing up and doing a lot of different things, running the floor. This kid does a lot of the same things, has a great pair of hands. He can score on the box and he can also pass the basketball.
“He rebounds the ball well and has a good feel for the game coming out of the Memphis area.”
Stokes — who signed with the Vols on Dec. 23 — took an official visit to Arkansas last fall and chose Tennessee over the Razorbacks, Florida, Connecticut and Memphis. He has made a quick transition to college basketball, but the Razorbacks aren’t surprised to see how well Stokes has adapted in just a few weeks.
“He’s had the body ever since high school,” forward Hunter Mickelson said of the 6-foot-8, 250-pound Stokes. “He’s a big kid and he’s using it over there. He’s done really well.”
Said Anderson: “I watched him develop over his career. … He wants it, I think that’s the key. He wants to be a player and he works hard at it.”
Stokes has been slowed by a wrist injury that sidelined him for the South Carolina game last Wednesday. He did play in the win at Florida, but was limited to four points in 11 minutes.
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin said he expects Stokes to be ready for the Razorbacks tonight.
“It’s feeling a lot better and he’s going to make it feel a lot better whether it is or not because he wants to be out there,” Martin said about Stokes’ wrist Monday. “But I do expect him to play a vital role in what we are doing.”
Florida Sold Out
Arkansas has announced Saturday’s game against Florida in Bud Walton Arena is a sellout.
The game — which will feature former Arkansas coach John Pelphrey’s return to Bud Walton Arena as an assistant on Florida coach Billy Donovan’s staff — will be the Razorbacks’ second sellout this season. Pelphrey was fired last spring by the Razorbacks after four seasons with the Hogs.
Arkansas also sold out its 66-64 win against Michigan on Jan. 21.
Tennessee in Memphis?
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin told the Knoxville News-Sentinel on Friday he’d be willing to consider moving the annual Arkansas-Tennessee game to Memphis’ FedEx Forum.
Martin likened the game to the annual Missouri-Illinois game in St. Louis, which is a nonconference game. Both schools consider Memphis an important area for recruiting.
Martin told the newspaper the Vols and Razorbacks have not held any discussions regarding a move to Memphis. The schools would need approval from the Southeastern Conference to play a conference game at a neutral site.
