Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Marshawn Powell has been cleared to play with Arkansas on its exhibition trip to Italy.

How much playing time he’ll get is unknown, but the forward will be happy with whatever he gets after missing 31 of 33 games last season with a knee injury. Powell is anxious to get back on the court.

“It is going to be real fun,” Powell said. “I have played a couple of pick-up games, but I didn’t play that many. It has just been totally practice structured for me since I have been back. It is going to be nice to see what I can do.”

Powell, who averaged 19.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in two games last season, is still working his way into game shape. He said he’s about 15 pounds heavier than he would like to be and has struggled early with conditioning after such a long layoff and rehab process.

Outside of moderate soreness — and an inadvertent elbow to the head from Hunter Mickelson — Powell said he doing well physically in his return.

Razorback Coach Mike Anderson said he feels good about Powell’s return, but needs to see him in better condition. Asked where Powell ranks on a 1-10 scale, Anderson said he’s “probably a five.”

“He's anxious to get back out there working,” Anderson said. “I told him we want to bring him along slowly but he means a lot to our team. With his experience our guys look up to him. He is a good basketball player.”