Coach Musselman Discusses Full 2022 Signing Class

Mike Cawood November 15, 2021

FAYETTEVILLE – The 2022 Arkansas men’s basketball signing class is complete and is ranked #2 in the nation by both ESPN.com and 247Sports.com.

Class Notes:

Highest rated recruiting class in school history (#2 247Sports Composite – #2 ESPN – #3 247Sports – #5 Rivals)
First time to sign two, 5-stars in the same class
In fact, Arkansas now has only signed six, 5-stars since 2004.
Also, Nick Smith Jr., and Jordan Walsh are the only two Razorback signees to rank among the ESPN top 10 (dating back to 2007)
Nick Smith Jr., and Jordan Walsh are on the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy Watch List
Arkansas had never had a class with at least four players among the ESPN top 100 until Eric Musselman’s arrival and his staff has done so twice (class of 2020 and class of 2022)
Since 2004, only four recruiting classes have ranked among the top 10 and Musselman’s staff owns two of those – class of 2020 was #5 ESPN / #9 247Sports and class of 2022 ranks #2 in both ESPN and 247Sports.

Barry Dunning Jr.
6-6, 195, G
Mobile, Ala. / McGill Toolen Catholic HS

4-Star – 76th overall by ESPN / #20 small forward in the nation
4-Star – 91st overall by 247Sports Composite / #25 small forward in the nation
3-star – 125th overall by 247Sports / #32 small forward in the nation
3-Star – 131st overall by Rivals / #36 small forward in the nation
Rated #1 player in the state of Alabama by ESPN, 247Composite, 247Sports
2021 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year
2021 first team Class 6A All-State selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association
1 of 5 statewide players selected to the ASWA Super All-State Team
Averaged 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior for the Yellow Jackets … Also recorded 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game

Derrian Ford
6-3, 200, G
Magnolia, Ark. / Magnolia HS

4-Star – 55th overall by 247Composite / #10 combo guard in the nation
4-Star – 58th overall by Rivals / #11 shooting guard in the nation
4-Star – 59th overall by 247Sports / #11 combo guard in the nation
4-Star – 68th overall by ESPN / #13 shooting guard in the nation
2021 Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year
Rated #3 player in the state of Arkansas by ESPN and 247Sports
2021 Class 4A Player of the Year by the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association
2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first team All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions)
Led the Panthers to a 23-1 record and the Class 4A semifinals in 2021
Averaged 23.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a junior
Class 4A State Tournament MVP as a freshman and sophomore, leading his team to back-to-back championships (2019 and 2020) … Had 54-game win streak snapped in the 2021 4A state semifinals, falling to Morrilton
As a sophomore, tabbed first team Arkansas All-State team by MaxPreps
Has a 4.0 GPA

Joseph Pinion
6-6, 185, F
Morrilton, Ark. / Morrilton HS

4-Star – 93rd overall by ESPN / #16 shooting guard in the nation
4-star – 98th overall by 247Sports Composite / #27 small forward in the nation
3-Star – 125th overall by Rivals / #34 small forward in the nation
3-Star – 135th overall by 247Sports / #34 small forward in the nation
2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first team All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions)
Led Morrilton to the 2021 Class 4A title game as a junior
Averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game as a junior … Shot 58% from two-point range, 40 percent from three and 74 percent at the free throw line
As a sophomore, averaged 18 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 steals … As a freshman, averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block

Nick Smith Jr.
6-5, 185, G
North Little Rock, Ark. / North Little Rock HS

5-Star – 6th overall by ESPN / #4 shooting guard in the nation
5-star – 8th overall by 247Sports / #3 combo guard in the nation
5-Star – 9th overall by 247Composite / #3 combo guard in the nation
5-Star – 16th overall by Rivals / #2 point guard in the nation
At #6 by ESPN, is the third-highest rated player to ever sign with Arkansas trailing Corliss Williamson (ranked either #1 or #2 by all the recruiting services) and Al Jefferson (ranked #3 by 247Sports and #4 by Rivals in 2004).
On the 2021-22 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School Player of the Year Watch List
Consensus #1 player from Arkansas by the recruiting websites
2020-21 MaxPreps Arkansas High School Basketball Player of the Year
2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions) Player of the Year … Averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
2020 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Underclassman of the Year … Averaged 21.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals
Played at Sylvan Hills as a junior and sophomore
In the summer of 2021, led Brad Beal Elite AAU team to a 6-2 record and the finals of Peach Jam while averaging 18.6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game … Scored 31 points (10-of-18 shooting) in the championship game and became the first player since NBA star Michael Porter Jr. to score more than 30 in the finals.

Jordan Walsh
6-7, 200, F
Desoto, Texas / Link Year (Mo.) Prep

5-Star – 7th overall by ESPN / #2 small forward in the nation
5-Star – 27th overall by 247Composite / #7 small forward in the nation
4-Star – 31st overall by Rivals / #11 small forward in the nation
4-star – 38th overall by 247Sports / #10 small forward in the nation
Rated #1 player from Texas by ESPN and #2 in the state by 247Sports
On the 2021-22 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School Player of the Year Watch List
2021 4A All-State as named by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches
According to ESPN.com, has a 41-inch vertical and a 7-foot-3 wingspan … Is one of the best two-way players in the high school game
In the summer of 2021, played for Drive Nation program on the Nike EYBL circuit and averaged 12.3 points, 7.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting better than 50% inside the arc … Tallied three double-doubles, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist effort
As a junior at Oak Cliff’s Faith and Family Academy, averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 blocks per game for a squad that finished 25-6 and advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals
Also led the Eagles to the state semifinals as a sophomore before the remainder of the state tournament was canceled due to COVID-19
As a freshman, led Faith and Family to a 36-6 record and its first Class 4A state title … In fact, his dunk just before the final buzzer provided the 53-51 victory against Liberty Hill

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.