FAYETTEVILLE – Mike Anderson and the Arkansas basketball program filled its 8th and final spot for the 2018 signing class this week with the addition of center Ibrahim “Ibby” Ali, a 2017 graduate of Maumelle High.
Ali, 6-10, 255, originally signed with the Baylor Bears this past spring but was officially released from his National Letter of Intent on Monday. Half an hour later, Ali announced his commitment to the Razorbacks, the team he had wanted to play for since arriving to the United States from Nigeria in 2014.
“It feels really good,” Ali said. “It’s one of those things where you have a few options, but your heart is always there. I came to the United States and to Arkansas, and had seen stuff about the Razorbacks. It just looked really cool to me. I had always hoped to play for the Razorbacks. When the opportunity came, I wanted to take it.”
Ali grew up playing soccer — football, as he calls it – in his homeland. He’s still new to the game of basketball, which he began playing shortly after arriving at Maumelle High. As a senior in 2017, he averaged four points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while connecting on almost 50 percent of his shots.
Anderson’s staff evaluated Ali and liked his potential coming out of high school but didn’t have enough scholarships to make a move, especially on a player who still had a lot of work to do.
Ali sat out a season to focus on his academics and continue honing his skills, and by the first of the year programs such as Baylor, Minnesota, Georgetown, Syracuse and others had become highly interested.
Ali chose Scott Drew’s Bears, but those plans fell through about a month after he signed.
Once Ali learned that Arkansas still had a 2018 scholarship open, he couldn’t get to Fayetteville fast enough.
“It was amazing,” Ali said. “I got up there and just looked at everything last Friday, and then I looked at my dad and he said, ‘Yes, this is it. This is where you should be.’ It was a great experience to be there with the coaches.”
Ali said Anderson was thrilled to see it work out for both parties.
“He seemed excited,” Ali said of Anderson. “He pretty much said, ‘We’ve been waiting for this, for you to say you want to be a Razorback.’ He seemed excited to have me on board, and I was all for it.”
Ali will join a 2018-19 Arkansas frontcourt that includes All-SEC center Daniel Gafford, junior Adrio Bailey, sophomore Gabe Osabuohien, and fellow incoming freshmen Reggie Chaney and Ethan Henderson.
Ali knows several in that group already.
“I know Daniel is athletic. He can run,” Ali said. “I think that’s pretty much how I describe my game. I can run up and down the floor and I’ve developed a 15-foot jumper. I think we’ll play nicely together.
“One of the Razorback commits, Reggie Chaney, I played with him over the summer and really like him. I know Ethan Henderson, who is a family friend, and I know Gabe, who is already there.”
The rest of Arkansas’ incoming class, which arrives in June, consists of five guards in Keyshawn Embery of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, Desi Sills of Jonesboro, Isaiah Joe of Fort Smith Northside, Jordan Phillips of Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep and Mason Jones of Warner (Okla.) Connors State Community College.
The addition of Ali means there will be just one scholarship available for 2019’s class, as Gafford is fully expected to turn pro after his sophomore season.
The 2019 spot is already filled by another in-state prospect, Little Rock Christian’s point guard Justice Hill.