Jim’s Notebook: Al Dillard Will Light It Up Again Saturday at Summit Arena

 

al dillard

Arkansas may be 19 years removed from playing in a Final Four, but at least one  former Razorback who did reach the final weekend of college basketball twice will be playing in Hot Springs this weekend in the Arkansas Men and Women’s College All-Star games at Summit Arena.

Seniors from several Arkansas men’s and women’s colleges will compete in the all-star games Saturday, while fans can remember the good ol’ days when the “Legends” take the court later Saturday night.

Also, Al Dillard, a star sub on the 1994 Razorback national championship team and the 1995 national finalist UA squad, who displayed an uncanny ability to hit three-pointers from outrageous distances, will go up against former Razorback Pat Bradley in a three-point shooting contest between games.

Senior men will compete in a North-South game beginning at 5 p.m. The North team is made up of Razorbacks Mardracus Wade, Rickey Scott, Coty Clarke; Arkansas State’s Brandon Reed, Ed Townsell and Kirk Van Slyke; Jordan Layrock of Lyon College; and Hayden Johnson from Harding.

The South team will be composed of Laquentins Miles and Deshone McClure of UCA; Brandon Wilson, Brandon Sims and Jared Harrison from UA-Monticello; Deoirvay Johnson from Henderson State; Leroy Isler from UALR; Duke Reed from Southern Arkansas; Jordan Talbert of Missouri Southern; Kenyon McNeal of Louisiana Tech; and Preston Purifoy from Alabama-Birmingham.

The “Legends” will consist of some of the bigger names in state athletic history, and not necessarily on the basketball court. Along with Dillard and Bradley, other “Legends” who have committed to play are former Razorbacks Clint McDaniel, Marcus Monk, Reggie Merritt, Nick Mason, Stephan Welsh, Carl Baker, Kevin Thomas, Marcus Campbell, Ben Cleveland, Sam Olajubutu, J.J. Meadors, C.J. McClain, Anthony Eubanks, Shawn Andrews, Carl Kidd and Gino Bell.

Among the top women players scheduled to compete are Arkansas’ Keira Peak; Harding’s Lauren Crenshaw, Deshelle Isaac Boyce, Katy Preaus and Kristen Celsor, all part of a two-loss squad; Christina Lasane and Marion Thompson from UAPB; Nashia James of Ouachita Baptist; Raija McWright from UA-Monticello; and Tamara Wilkett from Ozarks.

The game is being staged by the Arkansas Alumni Classic Inc., a sports marketing company that specializes in playing host to various benefit athletic events around the state.

The women’s game tips off all the action at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets will range from $8 to $18 dollars and will be available at the Summit Arena box off or through Ticketmaster.

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