He’s Back!

“He’s Back!”

Michael Musselman exclaimed on twitter after the announcement that junior guard, Isaiah Joe would return to the Razorback basketball program for the upcoming season. The announcement comes just two days before the NBA Draft deadline on August 3rd for those who needed to withdraw their name from the draft. Joe was the second leading scorer on a team that went 20-12 under first year coach, Eric Musselman.

How does this impact the team? First off, he will be the leading returning scorer on the team, a chance for the Hogs to be his team and elevates Arkansas’ three point borage that could be very potent in 2020-21.

What is Joe in for with his return to Arkansas? He set a single season program record with 113 made 3-pointers during his freshman campaign and could have surpassed last season if it were not for a knee injury that kept him out for around a month during SEC play. While missing those games he still made a staggering 94 three point baskets. Joe could also join the 1000 point club (910 career points) and could finish his Razorback career second in all-time three pointers made as he trails former Razorback, Rotnei Clarke by 68 three pointers. With Joe’s track record he could overtake Clarke this coming season.

The Razorbacks now have a very talented team with the return of Joe. Many have mentioned that this could be the deepest men’s basketball team the Hogs have put together this century. With the addition of guard Jalen Tate (Northern Kentucky), Justin Smith (Indiana) and Vance Jackson (New Mexico) give the Razorbacks plenty of upperclassmen leadership, experience and talent. Also, the Hogs bring in the eighth best signing class for the 2020 class with Jaylin Williams, Davonte Davis, Moses Moody and K.K. Robinson all have recently joined the team this summer and have seemed to gel nicely with the current team.

Finally, it is never too early to speculate what the lineup will look like this fall.

G: Joe

G: Moody

G: Tate

F: Jackson/Smith

C: Vanover

Second Platoon:

G: Robinson/Notae

G: Sills

G: Davis

F: Smith/Jackson

F: Williams