Humor

Freshman Takeover

Date: 2011-11-29T05:03:25.897
Author: Zach Turner
Editor note: Arkansas freshman BJ Young is averaging 17 points over the Hogs last three games. The St. Louis native has yet to make a start in one of Arkansas five games, but coach Mike Anderson said he considers Young a starter.
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Arkansas is down to just nine scholarship players.

Four are true freshman.

In the Razorbacks last two games against Utah Valley State and Grambling State, both Arkansas wins, the four freshmen averaged 21.8 minutes each after averaging 15.8 minutes the first four games.

Forward Devonta Abron is the only freshman to start a game this season, starting the past two games for Arkansas, but coach Mike Anderson said he sees BJ Young as a starter with all the minutes the 6-foot-3 guard has logged.

“I think the most important thing is when you get the playing time that you make it quality playing time,” Anderson said. “I consider him (Young) as a starter. He comes in and is going to play the same way whether he starts or not.”

Young has been the Razorbacks’ leading scorer in all three games since junior forward Marshawn Powell suffered a season-ending knee injury before Arkansas’ game against Houston,. Over the past three games, Young has averaged 17 points per game and is leading the team in shooting percentage making 50 percent of his shots.

“I think he is doing a good job with his shot selection,” Anderson said. “A lot of them are layups and dunks so that is smart on his part, but even when he has open shots he is able to knock them down. He is getting into more of a rhythm and his body language is different in a game than it is in practice.

“In practice I am all over him, but in games it is like the light goes off and he just goes 100 miles an hour. I think he is getting more comfortable with what we are doing and understanding what we are doing.”

Young is the only player on Arkansas shooting 50 percent or better and has made 7 of 18 3-point shots to go along with 10 of 11 free throws.

Sophomore guards Rickey Scott and Mardracus Wade, along with junior guard Julysses Nobles and senior forward Michael Sanchez are the only Razorbacks to start all five games.

“It is getting competitive,” Anderson said about potential starting lineup changes. “The more games we play the more I get a chance to see and that’s why I am looking awful hard. For the guys that have been starting out it is not etched in stone they are going to be the starters. I may end up having seven to eight starters when it is all said and done.”

Freshman forward Hunter Mickelson had his most complete effort in the Hogs’ 86-44 win against Grambling State. The 6-foot-10 Jonesboro native played a career-high 25 minutes and scored 10 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists.

“I think Hunter played with the upmost confidence the other night,” Anderson said. “He played the most minutes of any of the big guys so that can only help him from an experience stand point. He made some tremendous passes out there and I like his aggressiveness going to the glass.”

Mickelson weighed just 185 pounds when he arrived on campus, but has bulked up and is playing at 235 pounds.

“He is moving real well with it and hopefully using that added strength even more so,” Anderson said. “He did it to go get the rebounds and now we need to get him around that basket and maneuver around some people. He is going to have an advantage on people at times.”

Freshman guard Ky Madden has also seen his role increase during the past few games. The 6-foot-5 Lepanto, Ark., native scored a career-high 15 points and shot 3 of 5 from 3-point range against Grambling State.

“We are still a team that is a work in progress,” Anderson said. “Like I have told those guys, those (starting) slots are not in concrete. They have to compete each day and that only helps our basketball team get better.”

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