ACD's Michael Javes re-affirms commitment to attend UALR

BURN THE HORSE
   Coveted Arlington Country Day (Fla.) big man Michael Javes has signed with UALR.
   Javes (pronounced hov-ess), who committed to the UALR coaching staff in December, was finally able to take a visit to the campus last week. After returning home, he signed the “grant in aid” paperwork.
   Javes could not take an official visit until taking the ACT. He’s since both taken and passed the standardized test. The whole of his academic work, including his high school in Columbia, will now go to the NCAA Clearinghouse to determine his eligibility.
   It means Javes likely will not be with the Trojans when players report in two weeks for summer workouts. But it is possible he could be able to enroll in August.
   Javes is a 6-10, 225-pound center who drew rave reviews at ACD for his potential. Big Six schools have been showing interest all along and that intensified in recent weeks.
Javes was named to the first team at the Presidential Hoopfest in Washington, D.C., which was one of several honors he received throughout the season.
   ESPN rated him a 2 star and an 85 (link below).
   
Javes' apparently has dual citizenship with Columbia and Venezuela and both countries have shown interest in him for their national team programs.
  Javes' eligibility could be important if sophomore Gus Leeper has surgery and has to take a medical redshirt this season.
   UALR previously signed Will Neighbour (Daytona State/Great Britain), James White (Jonesboro, Ga.), Reggie Fondren (Northwest Mississippi CC), Taggart Lockhart (Talihina, Okla.), Eric Lawton (Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) JC) and Ben Dillard (Frisco, Texas).
   Javes would put UALR back at 13 scholarship players for the 2011-2012 season.
  Eric Kibi will not return for his senior season. Kibi averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game last season. But he played in only 29 of the 36 games after being declared academically ineligible in December.
   Also not returning is walk-on Logan Quinn, who red shirted last season. His family moved to California in the offseason and he’s transferring to nearby The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif.
   Searcy point guard Casey Wilmath is expected to walk-on this fall.
2011-2012 roster
Seniors (4)
Courtney Jackson, Tramar Sutherland, D’Andre Williams, Marlon Louzeiro
Juniors (3)Reggie Fondren, Eric Lawton, Neal Barlow (WO)
Sophomores (3)Chuck Guy, Gus Leeper,Will Neighbour
Freshmen (5)
James White, Taggart Lockhart, Ben Dillard, Michael Javes, Casey Wilmath (WO)

 http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/126072/michael-javes

Chastity Reed a Shock-best +11 in Tuesday's loss to Seattle

BURN THE HORSE
   Former UALR forward Chastity Reed is getting an opportunity with the WNBA's Tulsa Shock. She's not scoring like we're used to seeing, but she's been productive in other aspects of the game.
   Consider last night's game, in which the Shock lost to Seattle 82-77.
   Reed scored only 2 points in her 16 minutes, but she was a +11. The only other players to finish on the plus side were Lizzy Cambage and Andrea Riley (all three came off the bench).
http://www.wnba.com/games/20110621/SEATUL/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore
   Reed, UALR's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, is averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds this season.

UALR sophomore forward Gus Leeper injured in pickup game

BURN THE HORSE
   The status of sophomore forward Gus Leeper is in question for the 2011-2012 season after a leg injury in a pickup game in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
   Leeper played a big role late in his freshman season and it was hoped that he would do the same as a sophomore. He's scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery this week to determine the severity of the injury.
   If the cartilage is in place he could start rehabbng the injury and would likely be available this season.  If there is damage he'll likely use his sophomore season as a medical redshirt.