Men's basketball adds second signee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Pelphrey announced the signing of 6-9 forward Marvell Waithe to a national letter of intent on Thursday afternoon.

Waithe, a former Mr. Basketball in Canada, has made a couple of stops on his way to Fayetteville and is currently playing for Tallahassee Community College in Florida where he averaged 18.9 points and nearly nine rebounds per game last season.

"We are extremely happy to have Marvell Waithe as a part of our basketball family," Pelphrey said. "He is a great young man who is a very strong student and provides us with unique athletic ability. At 6-9 he is very athletic, possesses a lot of perimeter skill and is a tremendous three-point shooter and ball handler."

Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Waithe played his high school basketball for Laurier Collegiate Institute where he averaged 35 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior. Recruited by some of the top programs in the nation, Waithe went to Toronto Preperatory Academy where he was again highly recruited before joining Tallahassee Community College.

"Having an opportunity to get to know Marvell over the past few months, I’ve learned that he is an exceptional young man," Razorback assistant coach Tom Ostrom said. "Marvell will bring a lot of intangibles and character to our basketball program. He is unique at 6-9 and can guard or play multiple spots on the floor. He has the ability to play on the perimeter or in the interior."

Waiting three years to get his opportunity to play at a major collegiate program has not deterred Waithe from his dream, in fact it has made his desire stronger as his mentor and AAU coach Ro Russell pointed out.

"Marvell is a well rounded student-athlete and very determined," Russell said. "[Having to wait to play at a major program] made him more hungry and more mature. He appreciates every opportunity because he has waited for it. A lot of kids would have hung up their shoes, but Marvell is even more focused. He and Coach Ostrom as well as coach Pelphrey really hit it off and Arkansas was easily his favorite. He can’t wait to be a Razorback."

The Razorbacks open their season on Friday, Nov. 13, when they host Alcorn St. at Bud Walton Arena, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information regarding Razorback basketball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.