Darrell Arthur

[LA_Mustang]

Will SOC's Arthur be Dallas' next big thing?

01:21 AM CST on Saturday, January 29, 2005

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson is here. An assistant coach with "UConn" emblazoned on his sweater is hovering. The crowded, buzzing gym at Sprague Field House on a recent Wednesday is emptying out.

They came to see South Oak Cliff's Darrell (Duh-RELL) Arthur, who had 26 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Kimball.

As the 6-9, 215-pound Arthur emerges from the locker room and trudges toward the exit, he quietly towers over the loud cluster of folks looking up, waiting to congratulate him.

He can have his pick of colleges – and yes, he does say he plans to go. Because he's a junior, the recruiting process is about to shift into another gear.

"It's gonna be crazy," he said.

Rivals.com ranks Arthur, called "Shady" by most, even his mother, the No. 4 junior basketball prospect in the country. Mike Kunstadt of TexasHoops .com said he considers Arthur "the best player in the state, regardless of classification."

Arthur, 16, is the next in a recent line of nationally acclaimed, Dallas-reared big men. Last year it was Seagoville's LaMarcus Aldridge. Before him it was Lincoln's Chris Bosh. Now it's Shady's turn.

Kunstadt said Arthur is better than Bosh and Aldridge were as sophomores and juniors. Bosh is in his second season with the Toronto Raptors after spending one season at Georgia Tech. Aldridge is a freshman at Texas, though he flirted with the NBA first.


LOUIS DeLUCA/DMN
Darrell Arthur has always turned heads, and this season is no different. The junior is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Arthur is averaging 16.1 points and 10.0 rebounds for a team that is No. 3 in SportsDay's Class 4A area rankings. He also averages 3.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.2 blocks.

"He plays above the rim," Kunstadt said. "He's got a great looking shot."

Kunstadt said Arthur can hit the 3-pointer and the short jumper. He runs well, is athletic for his size and intimidates in the paint. The need, as with many high school big men, is to add bulk.

Kunstadt said Dallas producing top basketball players is nothing new. Three players the size and the caliber of Arthur, Bosh and Aldridge coming from Dallas within five years, however, is unusual.



Grade-school recruit
Arthur appeared on the prospect radar in grade school. He was the tallest kid around, pushing 6 feet by the fifth grade. His mom started bringing his birth certificate to games to prove his age.

Coaches for the club program Team Texas took Sandra Arthur out to dinner to woo her. They brought along a jersey for her son.

"I'm like, 'What's going on?' " Sandra said. "It was funny to me."

But for years, Arthur did not want to play basketball. Jazzy Hartwell, his longtime Team Texas coach, would have to coax him to go to practice. Hartwell would find Arthur playing baseball with a stick and a tennis ball instead.

Somewhere along the way, something clicked for Arthur. Nobody had to drag him to practice anymore. He wanted to play. He also had grown – his biggest spurt when he jumped 5 inches to 6-5 the summer before seventh grade.

Hartwell got an idea of how special Arthur could be when George Raveling, a Nike official and former coach at Southern California, was in town checking out some of Team Texas' older players and saw Arthur at Browne Middle School in seventh grade.

"He said, 'This kid is gonna go pro,' " Hartwell remembered. "It scared me."

Another sign of Arthur's potential came at an eighth-grade national tournament, when he dueled with Greg Oden of Indi- anapolis, the nation's top-ranked junior who has been touted as the next LeBron James-type phenom.

As Hartwell tells it, Oden came down the court, posted up and dunked on Arthur. Arthur got mad, went back down the court and did the same thing to Oden.

"He told me I was the first person to dunk on him," Arthur said.


Momma's boy
Arthur and his mom have moved around a lot, sometimes staying with Sandra's parents, known to Arthur as "Big Momma and Big Daddy," not far from South Oak Cliff.

Arthur's dad, Anthony Smith, and Sandra, both SOC graduates, never married. Smith lives in Houston, but he stays in touch and attends some of his son's games.

Arthur is fiercely protective of his mother, who is between jobs after driving a DART bus route in Oak Cliff for years. Sometimes she wears a jersey to SOC games that reads "Shady's Mom" on the back.

"He's crazy about his momma," said grandmother Ruby Arthur.

Arthur's brother Tarrell, named by his big brother, was born three years ago. For the last year or so, the family has lived in a new, gated apartment complex rising along a depressed section of Illinois Avenue.

Arthur had his nickname by the time he arrived at SOC. When Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady" came out, it was perfect for the long and skinny Arthur.



Wanted man
Arthur never played a game at the freshman or junior varsity levels. He played on SOC's state tournament team as a freshman. By that time, recruiting letters were coming in regularly.

They now come in droves. Coaches send them to the Arthurs, Hartwell, SOC coach James Mays II and Arthur's grandparents. Mays keeps them in a big white tub in the classroom where he teaches reading. It's stuffed with letters bearing the logos of the top programs in the country – Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, Kansas. Most are unopened. Some are addressed to "Slim Shady."

Recruiting rules prevent coaches from calling the Arthurs yet, so instead they fill up Hartwell's and Mays' voicemails.

College coaches regularly watch him play – North Caro-

lina's Roy Williams took in SOC's loss Wednesday to Seagoville at Forester Field House.

Sandra displays her son's mementos in a small office in their apartment. Along with trophies, framed photos and newspaper clippings are some recruiting gems.

Texas sends Arthur the Darrell Daily, a page designed to look like a newsletter. In one edition, Arthur's face is imposed onto the body of an athlete receiving the Naismith Award for college basketball's player of the year.

Arthur, who took the SAT for the first time last Saturday, said he won't get wrapped up in the recruiting process until the summer.

"I'm focusing on basketball and school," Arthur said. "Coach Mays and Coach Hartwell are the ones they talk to – I don't have to worry about it."

Arthur has thought about it enough to list five favorite schools: Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas.

In the coming months, coaches will be allowed to call, then visit. Arthur can take recruiting trips. The hubbub will only increase.

Arthur says he's ready. He'll find out soon enough.

[LA_Mustang]

Momma's boy
Arthur and his mom have moved around a lot, sometimes staying with Sandra's parents, known to Arthur as "Big Momma and Big Daddy," not far from South Oak Cliff.

Arthur's dad, Anthony Smith, and Sandra, both SOC graduates, never married. Smith lives in Houston, but he stays in touch and attends some of his son's games.

Arthur is fiercely protective of his mother, who is between jobs after driving a DART bus route in Oak Cliff for years. Sometimes she wears a jersey to SOC games that reads "Shady's Mom" on the back.

"He's crazy about his momma," said grandmother Ruby Arthur.

Arthur's brother Tarrell, named by his big brother, was born three years ago. For the last year or so, the family has lived in a new, gated apartment complex rising along a depressed section of Illinois Avenue.

Arthur had his nickname by the time he arrived at SOC. When Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady" came out, it was perfect for the long and skinny Arthur.



Wanted man
Arthur never played a game at the freshman or junior varsity levels. He played on SOC's state tournament team as a freshman. By that time, recruiting letters were coming in regularly.

They now come in droves. Coaches send them to the Arthurs, Hartwell, SOC coach James Mays II and Arthur's grandparents. Mays keeps them in a big white tub in the classroom where he teaches reading. It's stuffed with letters bearing the logos of the top programs in the country – Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, Kansas. Most are unopened. Some are addressed to "Slim Shady."

Recruiting rules prevent coaches from calling the Arthurs yet, so instead they fill up Hartwell's and Mays' voicemails.

College coaches regularly watch him play – North Caro-

lina's Roy Williams took in SOC's loss Wednesday to Seagoville at Forester Field House.

Sandra displays her son's mementos in a small office in their apartment. Along with trophies, framed photos and newspaper clippings are some recruiting gems.

Texas sends Arthur the Darrell Daily, a page designed to look like a newsletter. In one edition, Arthur's face is imposed onto the body of an athlete receiving the Naismith Award for college basketball's player of the year.

Arthur, who took the SAT for the first time last Saturday, said he won't get wrapped up in the recruiting process until the summer.

"I'm focusing on basketball and school," Arthur said. "Coach Mays and Coach Hartwell are the ones they talk to – I don't have to worry about it."

Arthur has thought about it enough to list five favorite schools: Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas.

In the coming months, coaches will be allowed to call, then visit. Arthur can take recruiting trips. The hubbub will only increase.

Arthur says he's ready. He'll find out soon enough.

E-mail [email protected]


THE BEST OF DALLAS-PRODUCED BIG MEN

Larry Johnson
Skyline, '87

Retired NBA veteran was the No. 1 draft pick in 1991

Tony Battie
South Oak Cliff, '93

No. 5 draft pick in 1997 now playing with the Magic

Kenyon Martin
Bryan Adams, '96

2004 All-Star with Nets is in his first season with Nuggets


Chris Bosh
Lincoln, '02

Raptors star is garnering All-Star consideration


LaMarcus Aldridge
Seagoville, '04

High school All-America center is a freshman at Texas


DARRELL ARTHUR
School, class: South Oak Cliff, Jr.

Height, weight: 6-9, 215

Nickname: Shady

About Arthur: His most prized possession is his cellphone, which he hardly ever puts down. ... Favorite musician is Lil Wayne. ... Arthur's father, Anthony Smith, also played basketball at SOC and was nicknamed "Grasshopper" because of his leaping ability. ... Los Angeles Clippers guard Quinton Ross, a former Kimball and SMU star, is Arthur's cousin.

South Oak Cliff (19-6, 3-1 District 13-4A) vs. Adamson (7-15, 0-4), 7:30 p.m. today, Cobb Field House

[DallasDiehard]

THink how mad Roy Williams, Bill Self, etc., are going to be when this guy follows Cousin Q to SMU!

[mavsrage311]

thanks for the great articles, LA Mustang

[Ponymon]

Darrell Arthur said he would visit Oklahoma, Texas and North Carolina in the fall.

[me@smu]

Of course he will visit the big schools...it is still a long shot to think he would come to SMU.

HOWEVER, him just having us in the high interest position is an achievement and one that will help us keep the interest of some other "big" recruits.

[Charleston Pony]

It's going to take someone of this caliber to change SMU's basketball fortunes. We've been waiting how long for the 2nd coming of Ira Terrell?

[Stallion]

geez it might be nice if we could just one of these super-star younger brothers, cousins or family legacies that have been Top Recruits over the last 5 years in both FG and BB to give SMU a second look. When we can't get family members and legacies to consider SMU then you know we've lost a generation of SMU fans. I can think of at least 7 or 8 difference makers off the top of my head.

[jtstang]

geez it might be nice if we could just one of these super-star younger brothers, cousins or family legacies that have been Top Recruits over the last 5 years in both FG and BB to give SMU a second look. When we can't get family members and legacies to consider SMU then you know we've lost a generation of SMU fans. I can think of at least 7 or 8 difference makers off the top of my head.

Be nice if Ice's kid would show up on the Hilltop.

[Hoop Fan]

UT got a big verbal today from Kevin Durant, Oak Hill Academy. He supposedly has a similar game to Darrell Arthur. Its gonna take some chips falling right for him to land at SMU, this might be one of em. Its a slow news day. Make that a slow summer.

[No Cal Pony]

The kid could end up a tar heel, but while roy likes the kid, work around here is that he is after some other talent first. I can only hope that Coach Tubbs can win over Darrell.

Go Ponies!

[giacfsp]

ESPN is reporting tonight that the league and the players are close to an agreement on a new six-year collective bargaining agreement .... which, the network reported, will include an age minimum that would require a player to be at least 19 years old to get drafted.

If that actually comes to pass, what does this do to the Darrell Arthur sweepstakes? Not only would he be affected, but there also are a bunch of other highly talented HS players who now would be "forced" (sort of) to go to college at least for a year. I would think many of those top players will go to places like Illinois, Duke, Kentucky, UNC, etc. Does this mean that such an agreement actually will help our chances of getting Arthur?

Dare to dream, PonyFans!

[me@smu]

The new age limit shouldn't affect Arthur considering he is one of the top talents in the nation and won't be beat out by many out there for scholarships to the elite schools.

Could help us with the Jermaine Beal's and the like, the slightly lower ranked talent that was counting on a defection to the NBA to free up an elite scholarship.

Another note, Kevin Durant has mentioned Darrell Arthur specifically as someone he wants to bring to UT with him.

[ClassOf81]

The new age limit shouldn't affect Arthur considering he is one of the top talents in the nation and won't be beat out by many out there for scholarships to the elite schools.

Could help us with the Jermaine Beal's and the like, the slightly lower ranked talent that was counting on a defection to the NBA to free up an elite scholarship.

Another note, Kevin Durant has mentioned Darrell Arthur specifically as someone he wants to bring to UT with him.

Yes, he is one of the top talents in the nation, but I guess it's just a matter of whether he's top 10, top 20, etc. And our rankings (and those of rivals, scout, etc.) don't matter in the slightest -- it's where the college coaches. For instance, I've read (maybe here) that Roy Williams isn't going to recruit him, having identified other players he prefers to target. So with the new age limit, say Roy and Coach K and Tubby Smith and Tom Izzo each get one more guy that they otherwise might have lost to the NBA. That means that one other player falls off their recruiting list because of a filled scholarship spot. So a trickle-down effect goes into motion, and if Darrell Arthur genuinely likes us .... who knows?

Then again, Coach K got an unexpected scholarship opening when Shavlik Randolph went to the draft. What is this kid smoking? He scores less than 5 points a game and plays less than half his games, but thinks he's ready for the NBA? Enjoy that Hall of Fame career in Sioux Falls, Shavlik.