Image – Whole Hog Sports
After Cooper Bowser pledged to Arkansas on the morning of April 14, John Calipari followed it up with another commitment that night from the portal.
Plus, two former Razorbacks announced their new homes, a five-star center came on campus, and two freshmen announced their plans to return to campus.
The transfer portal closes on Tuesday, so John Calipari and his staff will be focused on finishing strong and putting the roster together over the next couple of weeks.
Arkansas lands second transfer commitment, Jeremiah Wilkinson
Image – On3
Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson committed to transfer to Arkansas on Tuesday, April 14, hours after Furman forward Cooper Bowser announced his pledge to the Razorbacks.
Wilkinson scored over 17 points, two rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game during his lone season in Athens. The sophomore guard scored 20 points, shot seven for 16 from the field, and four for ten from three point range in the Bulldogs’ 90-76 win against the Razorbacks on Jan. 17.
He began his career at Cal, where he scored 15 points a contest and won the ACC Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman. He will have two years of eligibility left with the Razorbacks.
His commitment was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello on X. Bowser and Wilkinson signed with the Razorbacks last week.
Karter Knox and DJ Wagner announce their new schools
Image – Karter Knox on Instagram
Former Arkansas wing Karter Knox committed to Louisville on Wednesday, April 15. Knox announced the news in an Instagram post.
In the Razorbacks’ 89-80 win against the Cardinals in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge back on Dec. 3, the sophomore scored five points, rebounded five misses, had one steal, and one block.
Knox will have two years of eligibility left to play for Louisville where he will play for Pat Kelce, who enters his third season as head coach of the Cardinals.
Image – Bleacher Report Hoops on Instagram
News of DJ Wagner’s commitment to Maryland surfaced on Saturday, April 18. Wagner confirmed the news on his Instagram story on the same day.
Wagner heads to College Park, where he will play for former Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams. The junior guard faced Williams’ Aggie teams twice over two seasons, one time as a freshman at Kentucky and one time as a sophomore at Arkansas.
Wagner will likely be featured as a ball hander in Williams’ offense next to incoming five-star wing Baba Oladatun, as the Terrapins look to improve after a 12-21 season that was Williams’ first as the head coach of Maryland.
Wagner has one season of collegiate eligibility left as he transitions to play for Maryland.
2027 Five-Star Center makes his visit to Fayetteville
Image – MSN
The nation’s No. 2 ranked recruit and the top center in the 2027 class Obinna Ekezie Jr. arrived for his visit to Arkansas on Friday. Ekezie Jr.’s visit comes at a crucial time with the Razorbacks needing a center with 7-foot plus size.
The Southeastern Prep product fits that perfectly, standing at 7’0 and weighing 220 pounds. If John Calipari can convince Ekezier Jr. to reclassify, he can be the guy Arkansas needs to play in the paint. As the Razorbacks await Malique Ewin’s potential waiver to return to campus and they continue to pursue Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam. All three bigs are options for Calipari and his staff, but time is of the essence as the transfer portal closes on Tuesday.
Arkansas must add a Trevon Brazile replacement at power forward, a backup for him, and the returns of Billy Richmond and potentially Meleek Thomas if the Razorbacks want the best shot of winning their first national championship since 1994.
Two freshmen announce they will return for their sophomore seasons
Image – Arkansas Razorbacks Basketball and Paul Semedo on X/Instagram
Freshman center Paulo Semedo announced he is returning for his sophomore season on his Instagram and X accounts on Friday, April 17.
Semedo redshirted during his first season in Fayetteville but expectations are looking up that he will be the third option in the paint for Calipari and front court coach Kenny Payne, given his size.
The African born big man will have four years of eligibility left beginning with the 2026-2027 season.
Image – Isaiah Sealy on Instagram
Minutes after his teammate Semedo announced his plans to come back, freshman wing Isaiah Sealy did the same. On Friday afternoon, Sealy announced his plans to return to play for Calipari for his sophomore season.
The local product from Springdale will have the important to be an important bench piece on the perimeter after Knox entered the transfer portal. If he can up his averages of 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and under one assist a game coming off of the bench behind Billy Richmond, Calipari can become comfortable playing him.
It will be difficult, however, playing alongside two incoming freshmen wings, including five-star JJ Andrews and five-star Abdou Torre, which are both athletically gifted.
Sealy will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
