Eric Musselman praises Pro Hogs for willingness to return

The Arkansas Razorbacks called on the big dogs for a big gameday on the Hill on Saturday. Not only was it a big gameday with Tennessee coming to town, but the Hogs were also working on locking down another major recruit. Head coach Eric Musselman praised the contingency of Pro Hogs that made it to Fayetteville for the 58-48 win.

Among the Pro Hogs in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday were 2021 first-round draft pick Moses Moody and 2020 second-round pick Isaiah Joe. Both NBA players are Arkansas natives. Bucks champ Bobby Portis, Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford and Los Angeles Lakers guard Mason Jones also made the trip.

“Obviously, it’s the NBA All-Star break,” Musselman started. “You can look at every program in the country, there was nobody that had as many pros as we did. Guys want to come back here. I talked to all of them. The pride they have. I didn’t coach Daniel, he was excited walking in here. Bobby, even Khalil (Walker). We need that, we want them to come back.

“We’ve done everything that we could to get guys back here and to stay connected with them. I’ve been around NBA guys, 95% of players are not going back to college (during All-star week). Our guys aren’t in the Bahamas, they’re here.”

After a 9-0 start to the season, Arkansas lost five of its next six games, falling to 10-5 on the season and starting 0-3 against SEC opponents. However, Musselman was able to help his team turn things around from there, as Arkansas went on a nine-game winning streak. That streak included wins over LSU (ranked No. 12 at the time) and Auburn (ranked No. 1 at the time).

Musselman working on third McDonald’s All-American for 2022

Eric Musselman has already assembled a five-man recruiting class, ranking 8th nationally. Now, he’s very close to adding a third five-star prospect to the class.

Anthony Black, the top uncommitted prospect in the 2022 On3 Consensus, unofficially visited Arkansas on Saturday for the home game against Tennessee.

It was Black’s second trip to Fayetteville, after an official visit to see the Hogs on September 17-19. He is the No. 19 overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Consensus. Though sometimes a limiting factor, he’s already expressed interest in playing with Arkansas’s other high-caliber commits like 5-star SG Nick Smith and 5-star SF Jordan Walsh. If Black joins the class, it would make a record three McDonald’s All-Americans for Musselman and the Hogs.

The 6-foot-6 Dallas combo guard is considering Texas, TCU, Memphis, Gonzaga, Georgia, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and the G-League. He told On3 that a decision is not far off.

On3’s Joe Tipton contributed to this report.