Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

East Poinsett County guard Rashad ‘Ky’ Madden was recruited by programs across the country. When it came to offering a verbal commitment he said the pull of his homestate was too much to ignrore.

Hunter Mickelson and Aaron Ross are also in-state products committed to John Pelphrey and the Razorbacks. Mickelson, Ross and Madden are AAU teammates on the Arkansas Wings.

Madden told 103.9 The Game in Jonesboro that Mickelson sent a text at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday asking Madden to join him on the Razorbacks. Madden said the text from Mickelson read: ‘We really need you’ and helped sway his decision.

“I feel like I can’t go wrong, I’m an in-state guy,” Madden told 103.9 the Game. “Us together, I think we can turn Arkansas around. … I didn’t feel like I could leave the state.”

Madden committed to Arkansas over a final three that included Ole Miss and Baylor. Bears coach Scott Drew was in Lepanto to make a late push for Madden before he held his commitment ceremony. Madden told Rivals.com that he initially planned to commit to the Rebels, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Arkansas now has commitments from two, four-star players and a five-star point guard. Recruiting analysts view this as a Top 10 class.

Madden’s list of schools included Ole Miss and Baylor. Also interested were Florida, Georgetown, Goergia Tech, Kentucky, Marquette, Memphis and Oklahoma State.

Below is a list of current Arkansas commitments. Keep in mind verbal commitments are non-binding.

Arkansas coach John Pelphrey appears to be assembling a Top 5 class nationally. Madden said that should be enough to take heat off of Pelphrey, who has posted consecutive losing seasons.

“He’s got one of the Top 5 recruiting classes in the country. I don’t see why you’d fire the guy,” Madden said. “He’s bringing us all in.”