Three recruits sign with Hogs

Men's Basketball

By: UA Media Relations

Posted: 11/19/08

Arkansas' men's basketball program has added three recruits for next year's team, head coach John Pelphrey announced on Tuesday.

The Razorbacks for next year include 7-foot center Anthony Borden from West Memphis, Ark., 6-foot-5 junior college guard/forward Jemal Farmer and 6-foot-7 forward Marshawn Powell.

"All three fit a need," Pelphrey said. "They have the chance to come in and fill roles and all three have the chance to have an impact next year. Physically, these guys look like Southeastern Conference players."

Borden, a 230 pounder who preps at West Memphis High School, averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds last year as a junior.

"[Borden] has great, great physical size," Pelphrey said. "He's well-proportioned. I think he has the chance to have a big year as he gets older. He can run and he can catch the ball. We may be talking about a different kind of guy in two to three months. That's how hard he works."

He signed with the Razorbacks after also considering Ole Miss, Xavier, Alabama, South Carolina and Alabama-Birmingham.

Farmer, a 213 pounder from Chicago, averaged 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and made 37 three-pointers last year as a freshman at Cloud Community College in Concordia, Kan., helping his team finish 22-11. He earned first-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors and so far this season is averaging 21.0 points and 4.7 rebounds.

"[Farmer] is a big, athletic wing," Pelphrey said. "We needed that with the loss of Patrick [Beverley]. I think he was the leading scorer in the Jayhawk Conference last year."

He signed with Arkansas after also considering Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas State and Alabama-Birmingham.

Powell, a 220 pounder from Crozet, Va., is prepping at The Miller School in Charlottesville, Va. CBS College Sports lists him as the No. 36 overall player in the 2009 class.

Last year at The Miller School, he averaged 22.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots in earning state Division II Player of the Year honors.

"I'm very, very excited about [Powell]," Pelphrey said. "I think he's a consensus top 50 player. He can handle it, he can pass it and he can shoot it. He has a good understanding of how to play."

Powell chose the Razorbacks over Pittsburgh, Kansas State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Virginia, New Mexico, Maryland, Florida State, Miami, LaSalle, North Carolina State and Massachusetts.