Image – NBABigBoard.com
Another week has gone by and that means John Calipari and the Arkansas basketball staff has been at work putting their roster for the 2026 season. As everyone awaits five-star center Obinna Ekezie’s decision for where he wants to play, Calipari secured a power forward, officially added his combo guard, and five of his players will play in Chicago in a week and a half.
Miikka Muurinen finally commits to Calipari, Arkansas
Image – Miikka Muurinen on Instagram
2026 four-star power forward Miikka Muurinen announced his commitment to play for Arkansas on Monday morning. Muurinen announced his plans on his Instagram. He is ranked as the No. 55 overall player in the 2026 class, per the 247 Sports Composite.
Muurinen began his high school career at Sunrise Christian Preparatory before transferring to Arizona Compass Preparatory. He chose to leave the United States to play for KK Patizan in Serbia, opting to not play his final season of high school basketball.
Muurinen played for Brad Beale Elite program the summer before his senior year. He played with his future teammate, fellow upcoming freshman JJ Andrews, in the summer of 2024. Two weeks ago, he played in the Nike Hoops Summit with another future teammate, fellow upcoming freshman Abdou Torre.
The Finnish forward completed his official visit in Fayetteville back on Sept. 20, 2024. BYU, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and North Carolina State were also listed as potential options for him in his official announcement on his commitment before he decided on the Razorbacks.
Five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. officially signs with Arkansas
Image – On3
2026 five-star combo guard Jordan Smith Jr. signed his letter of intent to play for John Calipari and Arkansas, becoming the final Razorback signee to do so before Muurinen’s commitment on Monday
Smith Jr. made his commitment official during a ceremony at Paul IV Catholic School. The No. 2 overall player in the class according to the 247 Sports Composite has been committed to Arkansas since February.
Smith Jr. is the top prospect in the state of Virginia and won many awards this year including being named the Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of Year both in the state of Virginia and nationally, the MaxPreps Player of the Year, ad many others.
As a senior, Smith Jr. led the Paul VI Panthers to a 33-2 record and their fourth state championship in five years. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. He shot 56 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from 3-point range and 72.4 percent from the free throw line according to MaxPreps.
Smith Jr. is joined by the aforementioned Finnish forward Muurinen, JJ Andrews, and Abdou Torre are apart of Arkansas’ No. 1 overall 2026 signing class. They join Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson and Furman forward Cooper Bowser, who have signed with Arkansas as transfers this off-season.
Four Razorbacks invited to 2026 NBA Combine
Image – Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball on X
Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond III, and Trevon Brazile have all been officially invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago later this month. The news was announced via an official release from the NBA’s communications team on Friday.
The NBA Draft Combine is set to take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago. The annual pre-draft showcase includes events such as medical testing, interviews, shooting drills, agility testing and five-on-five competition. Portions of the week-long event will be broadcast on NBA.com, NBATV, the NBA App and ESPN’s family of networks.
Acuff Jr., Thomas, Richmond III, and Brazile are four of 73 total prospects who were invited to the NBA Draft Combine. Arkansas’ group of combine invites is tied with Arizona and Houston as the most invites of any programs this year. There were only 71 early entrants into the 2026 draft, which is a player who declares for the draft with remaining college eligibility. That is the lowest number of early entrants since the 2003 NBA Draft. Of Arkansas’ four combine invites, three are early-entrants. Brazile is the only one who has exhausted eligibility.
Thomas and Richmond III both have until May 27 to announce their return to play at Arkansas in the 2026-2027 season. Acuff Jr. did not keep his college eligibility as he is a presumed top ten pick.
Ewin invited to 2026 NBA G-League Combine
Image – The Arkansas Traveler
Former Arkansas center Malique Ewin has been officially invited to the NBA G League Combine. Ewin is one of 44 players invited to compete in the combine as he awaits a potential waiver to play a fifth season of college basketball either in Fayetteville or elsewhere.
The G League Combine will take place May 8-10 at Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago. Selected standout players from this event will be invited to stay in Chicago for the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.
