Archie Goodwin extras: On Jarnell Stokes, Calipari’s Dominican adventures

Clearing out the notebook from recent interviews with Arkansas’ most recruited athlete and found these tidbits:

1) Goodwin and Jarnell Stokes (Memphis) are ranked in the Top 20 of most c/o 2012 prep basketball players rankings. Both are recruited by numerous elite programs, included Arkansas and Memphis. Stokes recently insinuated those schools are front runners for him. Razorback and Tiger fans alike salivate at the prospect of seeing this guard and forward teaming up next season for their team.

At the time of the most recent Sync interview, Goodwin didn’t consider himself a close friend of Stokes, but kept up with him: “He follows me on Twitter and I follow him on Twitter. We might say what’s up or whatever on Twitter. We just haven’t engaged conversations.”

Goodwin also gave a scouting report on the 6-8, 250-pound Stokes, compared by many to Corliss Williamson: “He’s a very athletic, strong post man. I haven’t seen him do any really good post moves but he has a nice touch on his jumper and he can body you in the post and use his long athleticism and strength to get a lot of rebounds.”

That much was evident at July’s EYBL Peach Jam, in which both players starred. Here’s fivestarbasketball’s recap:

Stokes carried YOMCA to the Peach Jam finals as an individual leader in points at 14.6 per game, rebounds (9 rpg) and assists (3.6 apg).

Goodwin led the entire tournament with 20.4 points per game, including dropping 30 in an upset win over Team Takeover. The Sylvan Hills (AR) swingman led an undermanned team to a Peach Jam birth and two tough wins at the tournament. Goodwin silenced the doubters who said he wouldn’t be back from injury in time by putting on an absolute show at the Peach Jam.

2) John Calipari will soon coach the Dominican national team, which this September will be vying for its first Olympic berth at the FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Brazil. Calipari will spend about six weeks training Dominican players and coaches in Lexington. He follows in the footsteps of other American coaches like Nolan Richardson, who coached Mexico, and Del Harris, who coached China.

Goodwin respects Calipari’s unconventional decision to coach another nation’s team: “I think it shows he wants to explore different things. This is probably something he’s not done yet and wants to do. He’s willing to take chances and see how it goes and hopefully if works out the best for him. I follow the FIBA Americas, but the only time I watch it is when America plays.”

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