4-star Zayden High scheduling trip to Arkansas

Arkansas has been displaying the like to ESPN 4-star energy ahead Zayden Excessive, and he plans to return the favor by visiting the Razorbacks sooner or later. 

“Proper now, we’re nonetheless making an attempt to schedule a go to for me to stand up there, however they’re nonetheless recruiting me arduous,” Excessive stated. “They’re one of many high colleges recruiting me proper now. They’ve been in it for the long term, so I’ve to point out like to them and so they present like to me.” 

Excessive, 6-9, 220 kilos, performed his junior season at Smithson Valley Excessive College in Texas however will attend Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz., for this senior season. 

Coach Eric Musselman and assistant coach Gus Argenal are his two main contacts. 

“I most likely speak to Coach Muss daily, each different day,” Excessive stated. “Coach Gus, I speak to him on a regular basis, too, over the cellphone. They maintain me within the loop with what’s happening of their program.” 

His communication with the Razorbacks isn’t restricted to Musselman and Argenal. 

“They’ve extra coaches on their employees textual content me greater than another college,” Excessive stated. “I speak to extra coaches from Arkansas than another college.

“All of the coaches reaching out, that’s love. They clearly need me.” 

Excessive averaged 21 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per sport final season for Smithson Valley. ESPN charges him the No. 7 energy ahead and No. 37 total recruit within the nation for the 2023 class.

He has scholarship gives from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Michigan, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Houston, Colorado and different colleges. 

Excessive stated a number of folks have in contrast him to former Razorbacks ahead Jaylin Williams, who introduced on Saturday his plans to stay within the NBA Draft. 

“I’ve been in comparison with him lots,” Excessive stated. “Simply facilitating and having the ability to shoot, catch off the dribble, get to the basket.” 

Along with Arkansas, he’s trying to go to Michigan, Texas, Houston, Notre Dame and presumably different applications. 

Taking part in for Houston-based JL3 Elite, Excessive is averaging 16.2 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per sport in EYBL play. He’s taking pictures 45.3% from the ground, 28.8% from three-point vary and 69.6 on the free throw line. 

He, together with Arkansas goal and JL3 teammate Chris Johnson, was one in every of 27 athletes invited to the 2022 USA Basketball Males’s U18 FIBA Americas Championship Nationwide Workforce coaching camp in Houston. 

He and Johnson didn’t make the minimize as finalists, however he embraced the chance. 

“I had a tremendous expertise,” stated Excessive, who arrived in Louisville about 10:30 p.m. Saturday to play within the EYBL occasion. “A bunch of excellent guys taking part in in opposition to nice competitors. The very best gamers on this planet on the 18 stage and to return again right here to play with my crew is enjoyable.

“Attempting to get to Peach Jam. I used to be blessed to obtain an invitation to USA Basketball. It didn’t work out and now I’m again with my crew.”