Arkansas counting on sophomore Daniel Gafford to lead young Razorback squad
By Adam Spencer
Published:
It’s not often that a sophomore is considered a veteran player on an SEC basketball team (outside of Kentucky), but that’s the case for Arkansas this year.
F/C Daniel Gafford could have been a first-round pick this year potentially, but chose to return to help lead the Razorbacks in the 2018-19 season.
After losing veterans like Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon this offseason, coach Mike Anderson said he’ll be counting on Gafford to help bridge the gap from last year’s team to the talented young players the Hogs are adding (via 247Sports):
“Bridge centerpiece in a guy like Daniel Gafford,” Anderson said during a Thursday teleconference. “He was all-freshman, and we think he’ll have an opportunity to be one of the better big men not only in our league but in the country this year. And he’ll be the centerpiece of our basketball team.”
Gafford averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 2017-18, and also swatted away 2.2 shots per game. As more of a focal point in 2018-19, those numbers should go up.
He could be a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft if all goes well, but first, his focus will be on helping the Hogs get back to the NCAA Tournament once again.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
