Powell recommits to Razorbacks

By Richard Davenport (Contact)

FAYETTEVILLE — A trip to Fayetteville and the Arkansas Elite Camp convinced power forward Marshawn Powell he needed to recommit to the Razorbacks.

Powell, 6-7, 220, of Charlottesville (Va.) Miller School, orally committed to the Hogs in late May without seeing the campus but after visiting the campus and working out with Arkansas’ big men, he decided he wanted to play his college basketball in Fayetteville.

“I’ve been wanting to pull the trigger since Saturday when I saw how hard the big men work,” Powell. “I want to be where they make you better. That’s what I need, someone to work me hard so we can win a national championship.”

Powell averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots last season and 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks as a sophomore. CBS College Sports national recruiting analyst Van Coleman ranks Powell as the no. 36 player in the 2009 class.

He chose the Hogs over Virginia, Pittsburgh and Maryland. Powell said Arkansas fans need not worry about him switching to the Cavaliers.

“They offered about three days ago but I’m done. [Arkansas fans] have nothing to worry about,” Powell said about the Virginia scholarship offer.

Powell said he liked the idea of playing for Coach John Pelphrey and was surprised at what he saw at Arkansas.

“He was a great player when he played. Why not play for a great player like Coach Pelphrey and make yourself better? I wasn’t expecting it to be the way it was. It’s wonderful,” Powell said. “I didn’t know Arkansas had a gym that held 20,000 people.”

He said it was a plus to have fellow Virginian and current Razorbacks guard Stefan Welsh in Fayetteville but it was not the deciding factor.

“It helped a little bit but at the end of the day it was my decision on where I should go,” Powell said. “Having him there was an added bonus.”

Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Originally published 01:07 a.m., August 4, 2008
Updated 01:07 a.m., August 4, 2008