Florida State Seminoles guard Caleb Mills and Florida Gators forward Trey Bonham dive for a loose ball during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. — Florida State Seminoles guard Caleb Mills (4) and Florida Gators forward Trey Bonham (2) dive for a loose ball during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. (Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports)

In Midst of Crowded Transfer Portal Sits One Perfect Player for Razorbacks

Florida State star has all the tools needed to enhance Eric Musselman's next Arkansas team

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Apr 1, 2023 4:44 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 1, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – If you haven't been keeping up with the absolute insanity that is Arkansas coach Eric Musselman's Rolodex of transfer portal players that he's reached out to over the past week, then you've been missing a lot.

We've done our best to keep up over on the Razorback basketball Hog Feed, but, unlike Musselman apparently, we have to sleep every now and then.

The names and faces of players who have gotten a phone call from Arkansas all blend together and their highlights usually show promise, but there always seems to be one flaw that SEC teams can easily exploit that Musselman would have to coach away.

However, in the midst of all the haze, there is one player who truly jumps off the page and should leap to the top of every Razorback fan's wish list.

Caleb Mills is a 6'5" guard from Florida State whose name should sound familiar. He was a favorite of Arkansas fans at the tail end of the Mike Anderson era in Arkansas.

The Razorbacks weren't in the best position to land a visit with Mills back then, much less a commitment. Mills went to Houston for two years before transferring to Florida State for the 2021-22 season.

Meanwhile, much has changed at Arkansas. The teams' development under Musselman, plus its emergence as an elite transfer portal destination has created the legitimacy needed to land a player like Mills.

To get a feel for what he brings, here is how Mills was described on the Hog Feed earlier today.

Highest of motors on both ends of the court. Will turn a rebound into a fast break off sheer hustle. Not selfish. Will go to the rack if it's there, but also has great vision for teammates coming open when he draws the attention. Perfect fit for Musselman. Putting him, Devo and Trevon Brazile on the floor would terrify the rest of the SEC.

That comment is listed with a video of Mills' highlights which are so much more impressive than the other players we have reviewed. This is a young man who has such a tremendous vision for rebounds that he catches them on the run and has already scored at the other end before a normal rebounder would be done leaning over to clear it out.

The conditioning this young man appears to have is baffling. Any school that plays against him should be required to a full heart health examination of whomever is assigned to cover him because he always seems to be moving at full speed and it's an elite level full speed.

On defense Mills is a nightmare. He might be a long lost descendent of Bonnie and Clyde he's looking to steal and immediately profit from it so much.

However, the most important trait he brings to the table is selflessness. There's no ego with MIlls.

At one point in the highlights, he shakes a defender so bad that the poor guy goes crashing to the floor, sliding several feet away. Mills is all alone and fully justified to bury the easy open jumper that would be the period on the humiliation of the player who was just guarding him.

However, Mills sees a teammate come open on the block while everyone is in awe of what just happened. As he squares up for the shot the entire arena is absolutely certain he is going to take, Mills shoots a pass inside to his teammate for an easy lay-up.

Arkansas was at its best this past season when the ball was being moved at a frequent and unselfish pace. That's why you see certain players in the feed not being pushed as guys to watch.

There are entire sets of highlights where you see the ball stuck in a players' hand and it never leaves shot after shot. That's not the type of player who is going to be a fit for the team Musselman is putting on the floor next season.

Players with great vision who can keep an opponents' heads spinning with sharp, crisp, lightning fast passes that they don't see coming are the secret to the evolution of the Razorbacks. It creates a level of frustration that makes teams not want to play them.

Defense, vision and a motor that never quits.

There's not a better player for Arkansas in the portal than Mills.