Recruits Johnson, Satchell out of Razorbacks' mix

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson said Tuesday he couldn't comment on freshman signees Joe Johnson and Larry Satchell during basketball media day, but it spoke volumes.
It means Johnson, a 6-7 forward from Little Rock Central, and Satchell, a 6-8 forward from Waco, Texas, still aren't academically eligible.
Richardson said NCAA rules prohibit him from talking about Johnson and Satchell because they are considered recruitable athletes for other schools.
"That is something I can't touch with a 10-foot pole," Richardson said when asked about Johnson and Satchell. "I can't make any statements about them.
"The NCAA knows me very well, and I know them very well. So, I don't have time to deal with them, and I hope they don't have time to deal with me."
Neither Johnson nor Satchell has received his ACT scores -- which they retook Sept. 25, the two said Tuesday. Johnson and Satchell share a Fayetteville apartment and Satchell said he requested his scores be sent there.
"It's supposed to be Friday at least," Satchell said. "When I see them, I'll know."
Satchell said Richardson has told the two players he expects them to report Dec. 18 after the end of the first semester.
"He told us, 'Walk around with your head high. Don't get down about anything. Don't get discouraged,' " Satchell said. "We're going to miss the first few games."
Johnson and Satchell are not on the roster that Arkansas released Tuesday and neither took part in media day activities.
They are part-time students and had hoped to score high enough on the ACT to become academically eligible and add a 12th hour to their class schedules to make them full-time students.
The deadline for becoming a full-time student for the fall semester is Friday, and there has been no indication that Johnson and Satchell will be changing their status. Their likely plan is to take the ACT on Oct. 25 when it is offered on campus, become academically eligible and join the team in December after the first semester has been completed.
Johnson and Satchell are among players expected to be on the roster who aren't, with 6-8 sophomore forward Chris Jefferies, who in August announced he was transferring to Fresno State; 6-10 junior forward Kevin Robinson, a signee who never graduated from Butler County (Kan.) Junior College; 7-0 junior center Jason Jennings, who decided after last season to transfer to Arkansas State; and 6-9 sophomore forward Justin Hankins, who decided after last season he no longer wanted to attend Arkansas.
The Razorbacks will take the Walton Arena court for Midnight Madness practice at 12:01 a.m. Saturday with 11 scholarship players.
"We'd love to have all the guys who aren't here, but we still have 11 guys who can play," sophomore guard Brandon Dean said. "A lot of people may be judging us on who we don't have instead of focusing on who we do have and what we can do.
"That's just extra motivation for us to be a better team than what everybody expects."
Guard Chris Walker is the only senior. Forward Brandon Davis, who has recovered from a broken left ankle suffered last season, is the only junior.
Dean, guards Teddy Gipson, T.J. Cleveland and Jason Gilbert and forward Dionisio Gomez make up the sophomore class. The freshmen are forwards Carl Baker, Alonzo Lane and Blake Eddins.
"Experience makes a difference in any game you play, and if you look at us, where is the experience?" said Richardson, who is beginning his 15th season at Arkansas and 20th season as a Division I coach. "I've got it. And I've got a bunch of it, so I've got to go to work.
"I have to have patience. I've been praying every night that I don't go crazy."
Richardson said the Razorbacks "probably are going to get our butts kicked" in some games, but he expects this to be a fun team to work with and one that will mature as the season goes on.
"I like this team," he said. "They're young, but I believe they understand what they're up against."
Walker, at 6-5, is the Razorbacks' tallest player who has game experience. Gomez, 6-8, is a sophomore, but wasn't eligible to play last season. Baker is 6-8; Lane 6-7.
"When I first came here, I admit I didn't expect to have to play a lot right way," Baker said. "Now it seems like I have to step right in and act like I've been here for a few years, but I'm not scared. I will compete."
Richardson said he expects all 11 available players to compete for playing time and the Razorbacks will play a more up-tempo style than in the past -- "Fast forward," he called it -- to offset their lack of size.
"The biggest thing we have to do is attack," Richardson said. "We should be in an attack mode all the time."

This article was published on Wednesday, October 13, 1999

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