Five-Star Guard Anthony Black Commits to Arkansas over OSU, Others

For weeks now it appeared five-star guard Anthony Black, one of the top remaining uncommitted high school players in the 2022 cycle, was leaning Gonzaga over Oklahoma State as he hurtled toward the end of his recruitment. Yet on Monday, in something of a stunner, Black did not pick either.

In a commitment ceremony ahead of the 2022 McDonald’s All-American game, Black, the No. 22 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, committed instead to the Arkansas Razorbacks over a long list of finalists. Arkansas apparently made a last-second push after lurking for months following an official offer last spring. He quietly visited there last month, which may have swung his final decision.

OSU was one of the first to extend an offer to Black way back in the summer of 2020, and it was one of the few schools that landed him on an official visit. But alas, the Cowboys likely finished runner-up (or maybe third) after a long and winding pursuit.

Mike Boynton and the Cowboys staff don’t yet have a huge incoming wave of talent for the 2022-23 season — currently only one player, four-star forward Quion Williams, is signed — but the Black commitment may be a necessary domino that allows OSU to move forward and advance to the next target on the board. The transfer portal is laughably loaded with talent at the guard position.

OSU and Boynton tried to sell Black on a starring role in which he would frequently operate with the ball in his hands, a la Cade Cunningham, but that role may instead be reserved for whoever they land at the guard position instead. Next season that role is likely to be shared with Avery Anderson and Bryce Thompson, but another guard who can help run the offense figures to still be a priority moving forward.