2008 Woodie Awards
Rakestraw receives release from Razorbacks
Decision doesn't stem from playing time, father says
Matt Jones
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
Arkansas freshman guard Nate Rakestraw has asked for and has been granted his release from the Razorback basketball program, his father P.D. Rakestraw confirmed Monday night.
Reached at his home by telephone, P.D. Rakestraw said Nate's decision came down to one thing.
"He's not John Pelphrey's recruit," P.D. Rakestraw said. "Nate never felt he had a relationship with Coach Pelphrey.
"The decision weighed on him all year…but he would never quit in the middle of the season."
Nate Rakestraw was recruited to Arkansas by former head coach Stan Heath, who was fired following the 2006-07 season.
Pelphrey, who was hired April 9, 2007, left the scholarship offer in place after his arrival, P.D. Rakestraw said.
The Razorbacks finished Pelphrey's first season 23-12 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round before a loss to North Carolina on March 23.
P.D. Rakestraw said Nate was "still a Razorback" until his season-ending meeting with Pelphrey Friday, where Nate came away feeling he might need to make a change.
"We talked it over all weekend," P.D. Rakestraw said. "Nate made his decision about 11:30 (Sunday) night.
"We needed to find somewhere else where the coach felt more confident in him."
Nate Rakestraw played in 11 games for the Razorbacks this season, logging 33 minutes of scoreless action. He missed the first eight games of the season after suffering a broken pinkie on his shooting hand Oct. 16.
Reports surfaced on Internet message boards Monday night that Nate Rakestraw's decision stemmed from a lack of playing time, which P.D. Rakestraw said, "isn't true."
"It never had anything to do with playing time," he said.
P.D. Rakestraw said his son will still be allowed to participate and lift weights with the team as he finishes classes this semester. He added, "We left on good terms."
The family is looking at schools that recruited Nate out of high school, P.D. Rakestraw said. Those schools include Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Wake Forest.
Reached at his home by telephone, P.D. Rakestraw said Nate's decision came down to one thing.
"He's not John Pelphrey's recruit," P.D. Rakestraw said. "Nate never felt he had a relationship with Coach Pelphrey.
"The decision weighed on him all year…but he would never quit in the middle of the season."
Nate Rakestraw was recruited to Arkansas by former head coach Stan Heath, who was fired following the 2006-07 season.
Pelphrey, who was hired April 9, 2007, left the scholarship offer in place after his arrival, P.D. Rakestraw said.
The Razorbacks finished Pelphrey's first season 23-12 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round before a loss to North Carolina on March 23.
P.D. Rakestraw said Nate was "still a Razorback" until his season-ending meeting with Pelphrey Friday, where Nate came away feeling he might need to make a change.
"We talked it over all weekend," P.D. Rakestraw said. "Nate made his decision about 11:30 (Sunday) night.
"We needed to find somewhere else where the coach felt more confident in him."
Nate Rakestraw played in 11 games for the Razorbacks this season, logging 33 minutes of scoreless action. He missed the first eight games of the season after suffering a broken pinkie on his shooting hand Oct. 16.
Reports surfaced on Internet message boards Monday night that Nate Rakestraw's decision stemmed from a lack of playing time, which P.D. Rakestraw said, "isn't true."
"It never had anything to do with playing time," he said.
P.D. Rakestraw said his son will still be allowed to participate and lift weights with the team as he finishes classes this semester. He added, "We left on good terms."
The family is looking at schools that recruited Nate out of high school, P.D. Rakestraw said. Those schools include Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Wake Forest.
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