Razorbacks Name Co-Captains for Basketball Team

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Kikko Haydar (20) was named team co-captain with forward Marshawn Powell on Monday.

Fayetteville, Ark. – Monday before the Hogs took to the court for practice in preparation for incoming Mississippi State (7-9, 2-2) Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson named team captains for the first time since taking over the program nearly two years ago. Anderson named junior guard Kikko Haydar and junior forward Marshawn Powell as the Razorbacks team co-captains.

Haydar (Fayetteville, Ark.) has been the Razorbacks version of instant offense off the bench during the 2012-2013 college basketball season averaging 3.5 point this year.

Appearing in 16 of the team’s 17 games (DNP vs. Syracuse), all of the bench, Haydar has seen his role on the team expand over the last month. In four of the first five games the Hogs played Haydar did not score a point. Since a breakout game against Michigan when he scored 13 points, he has been a consistent scorer for Anderson and has added games of eight and six points over his last two against Auburn and Ole Miss.

The team’s most reliable shooter from downtown, Haydar has connected on 16 of 31 three-point attempts for a team-high shooting percentage of .516. He’s also third on the team in shooting percentage from the floor connecting at a .474 percent of his total shots.

Anderson has to appreciate how well his walk-on guard protects the ball having only turned the ball over twice in 200 game-time minutes played to date.

Powell (Newport News, Va.) is arguably Arkansas’ best all around player. He’s second on the team in points per game (15.2), first on the team in total rebounds (96) and rebounds per game (5.6), and second on the team in blocked shots (18) and steals (21).

Playing in all 17 of Arkansas’ games he has scored 20 or more four times and scored 15 or more nine times. He also has a team single game-high of 33 points against Oklahoma.

The Razorbacks take on Mississippi State on Wednesday, January 23, 8 p.m.