ANTHONY REYES Northwest Arkansas Times Arkansas junior Montrell McDonald drives to the basket during practice Friday in Bud Walton Arena.

Montrell McDonald had to wait a little bit longer this summer before he could join his new Razorback teammates and walk into a college arena for the first time in two years.

He didn’t mind biding his time, and he’s not against the extra work needed to get back into shape after missing out on several individual workouts and pick-up games earlier this summer.

McDonald played a season at George Washington University as a true freshman in 2006 and attended Cowley (Kan. ) College last year. He gave a verbal pledge to Texas Tech in April but de-committed to sign with the Razorbacks in May. The process ended a two-year journey to return to a Division I school.

“ I worked very hard, ” McDonald said. “ I worked two years to get back to this point, but it was all worth it. I’m just ready for it to kick off. ”

McDonald has been making a good early impression on head coach John Pelphrey and his new teammates. The 6-foot-5 junior led the Razorbacks’ Red team in the UA’s Red-White game Oct. 24 with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He also had a team-high 7 rebounds.

“ I think Montrell is making some progress, ” Pelphrey said. “ I think he’s starting to get a better feel for understanding. He’s starting to do some things defensively that excites us as coaches. ”

Pelphrey said McDonald has the potential to be a special defensive player to coincide with teammate Jason Henry’s offensive flash. McDonald is competing with Henry for playing time at the small forward position left vacant by Sonny Weems, who was picked in the second round of the NBA draft in April.

“ We need [McDonald ] to remind us of some of the great defensive guys that have played here in the past in his position that got easy baskets by being relentless with their length and their intensity, ” Pelphrey said.

McDonald’s flashy dunks in practice and pick-up games have been chronicled by his teammates and videos on the Internet. Junior guard Stefan Welsh recalled a pass to a streaking McDonald that resulted in a dunk over former Razorback strong forward Darian Townes during a pick-up game last spring.

“ That’s when I knew he was legit, ” Welsh said.

There’s plenty to know about McDonald. One quality many don’t mention is his ability to pass and find open players, even with no-look lobs, strong forward Michael Sanchez said.

“ He’s a little older and you can just tell by his play, ” Sanchez said. “ He drives the lane when you’re open and, even when you don’t know it, he gets it up in your face. ”

Off the court, McDonald admitted that his favorite television show is “ Walker, Texas Ranger, ” but he’s not much into joking about the show’s star, Chuck Norris, and the fad of Norris “ facts ” on the Internet.

The Fort Worth, Texas, native does have one hobby Razorback fans might rather not hear, though — he collects Texas memorabilia.

“ When he goes into his closet, all you see is Texas hats, ”Welsh said. “ I asked him, ‘ Are you a Longhorn fan ?’”

Relax Razorback fans, McDonald is not a ‘ Horns homer, Welsh confirmed. It’s just a quirk that’s “ real big on him, ” Welsh said.

McDonald might want to play it safe, though, and keep those hats hidden in his closet later this season. Arkansas and Texas are scheduled to play in Fayetteville on Jan. 6.

“ He’s licking his chops for that game for his personal reasons, ” Welsh said. “ I think he’s due for a really good year. ”