Books and Basketball

In his weekly column, Dudley E. Dawson chats with Har-Ber standout John Randall Tyson, who will play college basketball in the Ivy League and who knows Arkansas' incoming hoops recruiting class very well. This story is sponsored by the Arkansas Toyota Dealers. It's free and so is a special offer to attend a Razorback event. Click on the Arkansas Toyota banner for details.

Special Offer from Arkansas Toyota Dealers and HI:

Win free tickets for two to see the Arkansas Razorbacks play baseball this season at Baum Stadium. 

It is simple. All you need to do is click on the banner, then enter your zipcode to go to the website of your nearest dealer.  After you register to win this great package -- take a look at the Toyota line of vehicles! 

While the Big Dance will get itself down to a Final Four by the end of this weekend, Springdale Har-Ber hoops standout John Randall Tyson has already picked his.

In no certain order, it’s Darmouth, Princton, Harvard and Yale for the national merit semfinalist and point guard.

No, obviously those are not the final teams he sees in San Antonio at the end of the NCAA Tournament, but the final quartet for his college destination.

Tyson (6-1, 180), who has a unique perspective on the incoming University of Arkansas class and some future possibilities for the Razorbacks, will combine both books and basketball in college.

“I’m trying to decide in the next three to four weeks,” Tyson said. “I know that I am not going to play professionally so I want to go somewhere I can get both a great education and play basketball and also get away from home and get a little breathing room as I grow up.”

Tyson also considered going to Vanderbilt and walking on there before settling on the four Ivy League schools.

“I have talked to all the schools and am all set to play basketball regardless of where I end up,” Tyson said. “I am excited about the prospect of not only getting that great education, but still getting to play Division I basketball.

“I think that is a better combination than say going D-3,” Tyson added.

Who knows, maybe Tyson will even see some of his former Arkansas Hawks teammates and former foes in the Big Dance one day. He not only played alongside current Razorbacks and former Har-Ber teammates Michael Sanchez and Nate Rakestraw as well as 2008 signee Andre Clark, but but also 2009 Arkansas targets like Fayetteville’s Fred Gulley and Las Vegas (NV) Findlay Prep’s Clarence Trent.

Not to mention going up against guys like UA 2008 signees Courtney Fortson and Brandon Moore.

“We played Courtney and he was a very solid point guard,” Tyson said. “He got his points out of the offense and just really looked to get the ball to his teammates on Southeast Elite, one of the top 3 teams last summer in AAU.”

Sanchez redshirted this season for Arkansas and head coach John Pelphrey while Rakestraw saw limited action.

“Both of those guys are winners and great teammates,” Tyson said. “Coach Pelphrey seems to do a great job in getting a lot of his players and I think Mike and Nate are both going to contribute a lot next season.”

Tyson got a chance to see Clark blossom for a very raw player to a standout one last season with the Hawks.

“His athleticism is just phenomenal and he really developed a great attitude and got some confidence while he played over the summer,” Tyson said. “He can play the 3, 4 or 5 and can really step out on the floor and shoot it.”

Tyson shared backcourt duties last summer with Gulley, a junior who Arkansas and numerous other schools are recruiting.

“He’s a great player and just does a lot to help a team win,” Tyson said. “He can really handle the ball, shoot it and is a great defensive player.”

Tyson could likely have walked on at Arkansas, but is choosing the Ivy League route instead.

“I think that might have been fun, but it is more about just getting a little space and growing up and I think this is the best route for me,” Tyson said. “I am really excited about what the future holds.”





John Randall Tyson