The Hogs have struck again in the transfer portal! Let’s meet the newest Hog.
Meet Keyon Menifield
His bio. Menifield is a 6’1 freshman from Flint, Michigan, who just completed his first season at Washington. He averaged 10.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 41% shooting, including 33% from beyond the arc.
Menifield was a low 3-star recruit who had limited interest from major programs until he had a monster season on the Nike EYBL circuit after his senior year of high school (when he was already committed to Washington). That got the attention of many across the country so after a decent first year of college, he was highly sought-after in the portal.
His game. Menifield is a go-go offensive initiator. He was the Huskies’ starting point guard, and the Huskies ranked 36th in transition percent, 51th in transition scoring rate, and 86th in overall offensive pace. Menifield can attack the rim or dish out assists. He’s a three-level scorer, capable of pulling up from 3 or attacking off the dribble.
His stats. Menifield’s overall FV Score of 79 would only be seventh on Arkansas’ current roster, however, there’s more to the story. His Offense FV Score of 95 would be second-best behind Anthony Black, and it was the best on Washington. The Huskies – normally slow-paced – played very fast to allow Menifield to showcase his skills.
Arkansas definitely wanted him for his offensive initiation skills. His 4.1 assists per 40 minutes is decent (Black led the Hogs at 4.5), but his 15% turnover rate is fantastic. He is capable of playing very fast while staying under control. Most of Arkansas’ primary ballhandlers suffered from high turnover rates this year (Black 23%, Devo 19%), so Menifield should help limit turnovers.
The main concern with Menifield is shooting. He shot just 50% TS% and 47% eFG%, both of which are a bit low. About one-third of his field goal attempts were 3-pointers, and he hit just 33% on those. Again, not horrible, but low. Inside the arc, he pulls up for midrange jumpers frequently, which lowers his shooting percentages but also means he doesn’t draw as many fouls as you’d like: his 15% free throw usage is pretty low (for comparison: Black 35%, Council 31%, Walsh 20%, Devo 13%).
Defense is another potential concern, as Menifield’s DFV Score of 19 is terrible. It’s worse than every Arkansas player and also the worst of all of Washington’s starters. However, there’s a lot of hope here. Menifield’s 1.5 steals per 40 minutes isn’t bad, and his 1.05 kills per personal foul is the best of Washington’s starters. That stat usually suggests potential for improvement, or ability to defend more athletic players without fouling. Washington’s defense is extremely heavy on 2-3 zones, so I don’t think they really showcased Menifield’s athleticism at that end of the floor. I would say he’s a blank slate on defense, but expect his main impact to be on offense.
How does he fit?
As mentioned above, with Menifield running the show, the Huskies ranked 36th in transition percent, 51th in transition scoring rate, and 86th in overall offensive pace. Arkansas ranked 163rd, 152nd, and 140th in those same stats – all the worst of the Musselman era. The Hogs lacked a guy who could get the offense in transition, meaning that they struggled to showcase their athleticism in the open floor.
In terms of other players, Menifield’s play style is very similar to Layden Blocker, so the Hogs have two clear point guards to make the offense go. If Menifield struggles to shoot and defend, he could end up as Blocker’s backup. If Blocker struggles to seize control of the offense, then Menifield could take the starting job. I think you’ll see both play significant minutes during non-conference and it might be a while before that job is sorted out. There seems to be a pretty good chance that Blocker and Menifield will rarely be on the floor together, but one will be on the floor at all times.
Either way, I think Arkansas is going to play much faster on offense next season. That’s a very good thing.
What else do the Hogs need from the portal?
With two point guards now in the fold – plus Devo Davis and Derrian Ford, who could also play point – Arkansas is probably set on point guards. Any additional guards either need to be tall guards or good 3-point shooters. Certainly the latter: Arkansas definitely needs 3-point shooting, and Menifield doesn’t really scratch that itch. With Ricky Council gone, the Hogs do need at least one tall guard.
I expect Anthony Black will declare for the NBA soon, which will free up one spot. And I think at least one more – and probably two more – will open up in the coming days.
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