@EricPMusselman/twitter
- Eric Musselman is taking the SEC and college basketball by storm.
- Arkansas’ head coach landed a huge recruit on Wednesday and celebrated in style.
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Arkansas’ decision to hire Eric Musselman as its head basketball coach is already paying massive dividends. Not only has he won 20 or more games in his first two seasons, but the Razorbacks reached the Elite Eight in 2020/21 and keep getting better.
Musselman’s ability to recruit is a big part in his team’s success. He landed three top-25 graduate transfers after his first season, the nation’s No. 9 recruiting class in 2020, and is off to a blazing start for 2022.
Arkansas’ upcoming class is currently No. 3 in the country and consists of only four-star, ESPN Top 100 commits. The class’ biggest announcement came on Wednesday night when Nick Smith Jr. joined the future Hogs.
Musselman, his staff and his family went bonkers when Smith announced his decision.
#LivintheLife pic.twitter.com/UC3xJO0chU
— Danyelle Musselman (@DanyelleSargent) September 30, 2021
Smith, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound combo guard chose to stay in-state and Musselman responded in style.
Rocking a Razorback red suit, Musselman posted a video of himself strutting down the steps of a private jet. The 56-year-old was oozing with swagger as Jill Scott’s ‘Golden’ played over the video.
#LivintheLife pic.twitter.com/sLSvrMo7pg
— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) September 30, 2021
Smith was a massive get for Arkansas.
He is the Class of 2022’s No. 6 overall recruit per ESPN and is a highly effective scorer and shooter. He has great speed and bounce in the open floor and can shoot from deep off of the catch in the half-court.
“He has been recruiting me hard since the ninth grade,” Smith said of Musselman. “On my official visit, he was with me everywhere on campus. He is very hands on, hyper in a good way and has great energy. His plan for me is to prepare for the NBA. He and his staff did something that was different. They broke down all my games from the EYBL. It was detailed. Coach Muss told me that I had nine three-point plays. That blew me away.”
Musselman has been pushing hard to keep Smith in Arkansas and his celebratory video was well-deserved.