Arkansas’ 4 Bahamas opponents set The opponents for Arkansas’ four exhibition games in the Bahamas have been announced later this summer. The Razorbacks will face a mix of international competition at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League.
The exhibition trip will be seven days, beginning on July 29 through August 4. Arkansas will play four games at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment center on-site at the resort. The group includes the Bahamas national team, two of the top collegiate teams from Canada and the reigning champion from the top Colombian professional league.
The Razorbacks four games in the Bahamas: Friday, July 31 vs. The Bahamas National Team (6 p.m. CT) Aug. 1 vs. Carleton State University (5 p.m.) Aug. 3 vs. Toros del Valle (5 p.m.) Aug. 4 vs. University of Calgary (11 a.m.)
The Bahamas National Team will be made up of their national team players. Carleton University is located in Ottawa, Ontario. The Ravens are the defending Canadian national collegiate champion after going 27-9 overall and 17-5 in conference play. They won the Ontario University Athletics conference last season before winning the program’s 18th Canadian Men’s Basketball National Championship.
Toros del Valle is a professional team from Cali, Columbia. They play in the Liga WPlay de Baloncesto, the best professional basketball league in Columbia. Toros won the 2026 Apertura title in June. The University of Calgary, located in Calgary, Alberty made it to and hosted the 2026 U Sports Men’s Final 8 Basketball Tournament. The Dinos lost their first-round matchup versus Victoria and also fell in the consolation semifinal to Acadia. They were the U SPORTS runner-up in 2025.
Other NCAA teams participating in the Baha Mars Summer League include Cincinnati, South Carolina, Valparaiso and Texas A&M.
FAYETTEVILLE –The Southeastern Conference released the men’s basketball home and away conference opponents for the 2026-27 season. The Razorbacks will play Alabama, LSU and Missouri twice during the regular season, once at home and once on the road.
Arkansas will face the other 12 SEC teams once. The Razorbacks will host Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oklahoma at Bud Walton Arena and will travel to face Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.
League play tips off on Saturday, January 2, and runs through Saturday, March 6. Each SEC team plays the other 15 teams at least once during league play. Three teams will be played a second time during the schedule – two of which are permanent opponents and one that will change each year.
The SEC Tournament returns to Nashville, Tenn., as Bridgestone Arena will host the event from March 10-14, 2027.
Image – Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball on X
Arkansas 2026-27 SEC Opponents
Home Games: Alabama Auburn Florida Georgia LSU Ole Miss Mississippi State Missouri Oklahoma
Road Games: at Alabama at Kentucky at LSU at Missouri at South Carolina at Tennessee at Texas at Texas A&M at Vanderbilt
Notes: ● Under the new scheduling format, this will be the second-straight year Arkansas will face both LSU and Missouri twice as SEC-designated “permanent opponents.” ● Arkansas and LSU have met for a home-and-home series in all but two seasons since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season. The Razorbacks and Tigers only met once in 2013 (in Baton Rouge) and just once in 2015 (in Fayetteville). Arkansas leads the Tigers 42-32 since the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Since Arkansas joined the SEC, the Tigers are the Razorbacks’ most common SEC opponent with 72 meetings followed by Mississippi State (62), Auburn (62), Alabama (61) and Ole Miss (61). ● Arkansas and Missouri will be playing a home-and-home series for the 15th consecutive year. The streak coincides with the number of years since the Tigers joined the SEC (2012-13). Arkansas leads the all-time series with Missouri, 38-28, and leads 19-10 since the Tigers joined the SEC, including wins in 10 of the last 12 meetings. ● The last time Arkansas and Alabama met faced each other twice in the regular season was the 2022-2023 campaign. Alabama swept the series that season, winning 84-69 in Fayetteville and 86-83 in Tuscaloosa. The Razorbacks hold a one game advantage against the Crimson Tide all time, 36-35, but trail Alabama 32-29 since the Hogs joined the SEC. Alabama has won six straight in the series. Since 2020, six of the nine meetings between the two schools have been at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. ● For just the third consecutive year and the fifth time since Texas A&M joined the SEC (2012-13), Arkansas and the Aggies will meet just once in the regular season. Texas A&M is Arkansas’ most common opponent with 171 games played in the series since the Hog’s first year of basketball (1923-24). Arkansas leads the all-time series with the Aggies, 109-62, and own a 14-11 advantage since A&M joined the SEC. The home team has dominated the series over the last 14 seasons as Arkansas is 11-1 versus the Aggies at home and Texas A&M is 8-3 versus the Razorbacks in College Station.
The full 2026-27 SEC schedule will be unveiled at a later date.
Kings select Acuff Jr. with No. 7 overall pick BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Razorback freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. was selected in the first round as the 7th overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings to become the 48th Razorback drafted in the NBA, the 17th first round pick and 63rd player under John Calipari to be drafted in Cal’s 33 years as a collegiate head coach. Also, with Acuff going seventh overall, Coach Cal now has 30 all-time Lottery picks, passing Mike Krzyzewski for the most by any collegiate coach.
This past season, Acuff starred for the Razorbacks, averaging over 23 points and six assists per game. He set an SEC record with eight weekly and seven freshman of the week honors and one player of the week honor. He also won the SEC player and freshman of the year, was on the All-SEC First Team, All-SEC freshman team, the SEC Tournament MVP, was named a consensus First Team All-American and the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy for National Player of the Year.
Acuff set Arkansas single-season records for most points (845) and most assists (232). His 845 points rank 9th on the SEC single-season list and his 232 assists rank 9th (tied) on the SEC single-season list making him the only player to be on the SEC single-season top lists for points and assists. He joined Pete Maravich as the only players in SEC History to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season.
Acuff, a Detroit native, was a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. prior to enrolling at Arkansas for his freshman year.
Thomas, Brazile selected with back-to-back picks Arkansas freshman guard Melek Thomas and senior forward Trevon Brazile became the 49th and 50th Razorbacks to be selected in the NBA Draft. The pair went in back-to-back picks in the second round. Thomas was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers at 34th overall and Brazile went to the Denver Nuggets a pick later at 35th overall.
The duo become the 64th and 65th John Calipari-coached players selected in the NBA Draft. They join Acuff to give Arkansas at least three NBA selections in the same draft for the fifth time. The trio join the 2023 class (Anthony Black – 1st, Nick Smith Jr. – 1st, and Jordan Walsh – 2nd), 1992 (Todd Day – 1st, Oliver Miller – 1st, Lee Mayberry -1st, and Isaiah Morris-2nd), 1979 (Sidney Moncrief -1st, Steve Schall-5th, and Marvin Delph – 6th) and 1948 (George Kok – 1st, Melvin McGaha – 3rd, and Alvin Williams – 9th).
Thomas was part of the top freshman scoring freshmen duo with Acuff in Division I in Division I since 2019-20 with 1,424 combined points. If Thomas did not play with Acuff, he would have set the Arkansas record for most points by a freshman with 579. He was named the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Thomas scored 20-plus points nine times including a career-high 30 points in the Razorbacks’ regular season finale against Missouri. He almost repeated his performance against the Tigers in the SEC Tournament Semifinals against Ole Miss, when he dropped 29 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The Pittsburgh native shot an Arkansas-record 48.7% (38-78) from 3-point in SEC games only. He led the team in free throw percentage (84.3%) and steals (57) while ranking second on the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), assists (92) and 3-point percentage (41.6%).
Brazile played four of five of his collegiate seasons at Arkansas, winning SEC Player of the week twice as a Razorback (Dec. 4, 2023, vs Duke and Dec. 15, 2025, vs Texas Tech). He was named to the to the 2026 SEC All-Tournament Team, averaging 14.7 points and 10.0 rebounds with two double-doubles.
Brazile played fantastic basketball to finish the season. Brazile averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, helping the Razorbacks to a 12-3 record over the final two months of the regular season. During the final four minutes of the SEC Tournament Championship game, scoring eight points in a 12-0 Razorback run, making two 3-pointers and a dunk, while adding a steal, a deflection and a blocked shot.
Brazile broke the 1,000-point barrier for his Razorback career vs Hawai’i in the NCAA Tournament and finished his Arkansas career with 1,029 points (1,195 points for his career). He started 35 of 36 games during his senior season, averaging a career-best 13.0 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds. In addition, he led the team in blocks (58), second in steals (53), and third in three-pointers made (45), shooting 34.1% from range. In the SEC, he ranked 4th in blocked shots (1.61), 4th in defensive rebounds (5.81), 5th in rebounds (7.3), 5th in double-doubles (7), and 11th in steals (1.47).
After the 2026 NBA Draft: John Calipari has coached 65 players that have been selected in the NBA Draft which is tied for second with North Carolina’s Dean Smith and is right behind Duke’s Mike Kyrzewski (74) at No. 1. is 65 players selected in the first and second rounds are second all-time to Coach K with 66 players selected.
Coach Cal’s 44 players selected in the first round is second to Coach K, who leads with 46 players selected. After Acuff’s selection at 7th by the Kings in this year’s draft, Calipari has now coached 30 lottery picks, which is the most by a collegiate coach, passing Coach K who has 29.
Calipari has a streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one player drafted, which is second to Dean Smith, who had a streak of 23 years in a row. He has had at least three players drafted in a season 12 times.
Arkansas has had 50 players have been selected in the NBA Draft (52 picks as Steve Schall and Marvin Delph were drafted twice). 17 Razorbacks have been selected in the first round.
Arkansas has had 11 players drafted over the last 8 seasons and 16 since 2001. The Hogs have had at least three players drafted in the same season (1948, 1979, 1992, 2023 and 2026).
Following Acuff’s selection, Arkansas has now had eight players become lottery picks. George Kok is the highest Razorback to go in the draft as the 2nd overall pick in 1948 however, Sidney Moncrief is the highest-picked Hog as the fifth overall pick in 1979 in the modern era.
In the lottery era, Anthony Black and Joe Kleine are the highest picks, each were the #6 overall picks. Acuff joins Ron Brewer (1978) and Alvin Robertson (1984) as Razorbacks to be the seventh overall pick.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a 13-year partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season after being facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties.
The multi-phased partnership will not just include naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will support student-athletes and fans, serving as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics.
The partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on game day. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will provide Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Frolov fills Razorbacks’ gap at center Russian center Ilia Frolov has signed with Arkansas. ESPN Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi was first to report the news.
“It was an amazing visit. Coach Calipari and the staff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Coach Cal can teach me a lot about the game, and I will do whatever it takes to help him win.”
Frolov is a 6-foot-11, 225-pounder with potential to lead the Arkansas front court during the upcoming 2026-27 season, as he averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 assists for Real Madrid’s U22 team. He shot an effective 36.1% from three-point range 84.6% from the free throw line. Frolov is also a member of the Russian National Team.
Frolov began his visit to Fayetteville on Tuesday, June 16, including an evaluation from the Razorbacks’ staff. He will join a Razorback front court that already includes Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen, Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, and former four-star Maper Maker.
Frolov pledged to the Razorbacks on his 18th birthday.
NASSAU, Bahamas (June 18, 2026) – Arkansas fans can get a preview of John Calipari’s 2026-27 Razorbacks when they play four exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League from Friday, July 31, through Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the beautiful Baha Mar resort.
The seven day trip runs July 29 through Aug. 4, including four exhibition games at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center on-site at the resort. The Razorbacks will play games on July 31 (6 p.m. CT), Aug. 1 (5 p.m.), Aug. 3 (5 p.m.) and Aug. 4 (11 a.m.). Opponents, including international teams and Canadian universities, will be announced at a later date.
As John Calipari enters his third season as head coach at Arkansas, the Razorbacks feature junior wing Billy Richmond III, who averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season. As the lone returner with the program with significant experience, Richmond will be joined by a new group of freshmen including guard Jordan Smith Jr., wing JJ Andrews, wing Abdou Torre, forward Miika Muurinen, and transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson and forward Cooper Bowser.
New NCAA rules allow college teams to take a foreign tour annually after the previous rule allowed such a trip only once every four academic years.
South Carolina and Valparaiso were announced as other participants in the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League. Additional U.S. college teams scheduled to take part in the event will be announced soon.
The event, now in its fifth year, is run by bdG Sports, a Kentucky-based sports and entertainment company that organizes around two dozen men’s and women’s college basketball games at Baha Mar each November.
Members of the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball team are on campus for summer workouts. Three games are now on the 2026-2027 schedule. Also, the hogs added a four-star guard who is reclassifying to join the team this year and strengthen their guard depth.
Arkansas to begin series against Arizona Both Arkansas coach John Calipari and Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd were interested in setting up a rematch of the Wildcat’s 109-88 victory in the Sweet 16.
On Tuesday, June 2 CBS Sports reported that the Razorbacks and Wildcats had verbally agreed to begin a multi-year series beginning next season in Phoenix. The game will be on Saturday, Dec. 19 as a part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Series in Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center (home to the Phoenix Suns). The series is a double header including UNLV vs. SMU.
The second game in the Arizona-Arkansas series, in 2027-28, will be played at Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena. In 2028-2029 the Razorbacks will travel to Tucson to face the Wildcats on their home court, the McKale Center. There is also an option or a fourth game to be played in 2029-30 closer to Arkansas’ territory, but the fate/location of that game will be determined down the road.
A lot of the Razorbacks’ roster from that game will be playing professional basketball. Guards Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, forward Trevon Brazile, and centers Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle are all gone. It will be up to wing Billy Richmond III to lead Arkansas’ new-look roster with two transfers and six new freshmen on the roster.
Arizona went 36-3 and 16-2 in the Big 12 during the 2025-26 season. After the Wildcats dispatched the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16, they eliminated Purdue, 73-64, in the Elite Eight before falling in the national semifinal to Michigan, 91-73, in Indianapolis.
Arkansas-UNC meet in ACC-SEC Challenge in Chapel Hill
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will head to Chapel Hill and face North Carolina for the first time at the Dean Dome when the teams meet on Tuesday, December 1, in the 2026 ACC-SEC Men’s Basketball Challenge.
This will be the 12th game between the teams with the Tar Heels holding an 8-3 advantage, including five wins in a row in the series.
It’s the first time Arkansas will face will be playing UNC since an 87-72 Tar Heel victory in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Nov. 24, 2023 in the third place game of the event.
Six of the previous 11 games came in the NCAA Tournament.
The only previous matchups in the state of North Carolina were on Jan. 14, 1979, in the Greensboro Coliseum (a 63-57 UNC win) and March 23, 2008, in Raleigh (a 108-77 UNC victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament).
One game in the series has been billed as one of Arkansas basketball’s best games of all time. The Razorbacks upset No. 1 ranked North Carolina, led by Michael Jordan, 65-64, in Pine Bluff. Joe Kleine scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds in the win, but Charles Balentine was the hero, hitting the game-winning shot with four seconds left.
The Tar Heels went 24-9 and 12-6 in the ACC before a Round of 64 loss to VCU in overtime ended Hubert Davis’ five-year run in Chapel Hill. Former Denver Nuggets’ head coach will Michael Malone will attempt to build on his NBA Championship resume in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
Arkansas is 3-0 in the ACC-SEC Challenge, including a home win against Duke, a road win at Miami, and another home win against Louisville.
2026 ACC/SEC Challenge Matchups
Tuesday, Dec. 1 South Carolina at North Carolina State Boston College at Georgia Ole Miss at Virginia Tech Syracuse at Oklahoma Pittsburgh at Missouri Wake Forest at LSU Auburn at Clemson Florida State at Tennessee Arkansas at North Carolina Texas at Louisville Duke at Florida
Wednesday, Dec. 2 Georgia Tech at Mississippi State Vanderbilt at Notre Dame Stanford at Texas A&M Kentucky at Virginia Alabama at Miami
Arkansas to host Central Michigan on Dec. 22 Arkansas will reportedly welcome Central Michigan to Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday, December 22.
The Razorbacks and Chippewas will meet for the first time in 20 years when they clash ten days from the beginning of 2027. The only other meeting came during the 2006-07 when Central Michigan traveled to Fayetteville on Dec. 5. Arkansas went on to win that game 75-59, with Charles Thomas scoring 14 points and Sonny Weems adding 13 points.
Central Michigan struggled to a 10-21 overall record and a 6-21 mark in the Mid-American Conference during the 2025-26 season. The Chippewas’ season ended when they fell to Ball State 85-69 in the MAC Tournament in Muncie, Ind.
JUCO forward made visit to Fayetteville Arkansas hosted 6’10 forward Shah Hall on an official visit from Monday, June 9 to Tuesday, June 10 as their pursuit of a starting big man continues into June.
Hall, the Shelton State Community College standout, averaged 9.4 outs, 7.9 rebounds, and blocked 70 shots during the 2025-26 season. Hall’s elite size, rim protection, and rebounding ability makes him one of the most coveted late additions during this off-season.
Hall originally signed with Andy Kennedy and UAB before requesting a release from his national letter of intent on May 25.
Arkansas welcomes Gonzaga for exhibition inside Bud Walton Arena On Tuesday, June 9, John Calipari announced the Razorbacks would host the Bulldogs in an interview with Pig Trail Nation. He did not disclose a date for the game.
It is the first preseason game announced for the Razorbacks, who have increasingly played Division I opponents in exhibition games. The Razorbacks hosted Cincinnati and played at Memphis ahead of last season.
Back before his first season with Arkansas in 2024-25, Calipari said he had been working with Bulldogs coach Mark Few on a scheduling arrangement.
“Hopefully we’re doing something with them in the future,” he said at the time.
The Razorbacks have matched up with Gonzaga in two previous matchups, splitting with the Bulldogs. The Razorbacks upset the No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga 74-68 on March 24, 2022, in San Francisco during the Sweet 16.
The Zags finished 31-4 last season and begin Few’s 28th season in charge. Center Graham Ike, wing Tyon Grant-Foster, Adam Miller, Emmanuel Innocenti and Braeden Smith exit the program but return forward Braden Smith, guards Mario Saint-Supery and wing Davis Fogle.
2027 4-star Davion Thompson commits to Razorbacks Link Academy point guard Davion Thompson committed to Arkansas on Wednesday night, June 10. Thompson, John Calipari’s first commitment in the 2027 class, pledged to the Razorbacks over Baylor, Michigan, and Vanderbilt.
Thompson, ranked No. 22 in the 2027 247 Sports Composite, has been considered a candidate to reclassify into the 2026 class and enroll in college for the upcoming season. But he said he doesn’t plan to make a decision on that until after the July live period. He plays with the MeanStreets program on the Nike EYBL circuit and is averaging 21.7 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds. Through seven games he is shooting nearly 52% from 3-point range on 7.7 attempts per game.
Thompson also represented USA Basketball at this month’s FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where the United States lost to Canada in the championship game. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.5% from three-point range.
Calipari and the Razorbacks already have landed the top class for 2026 with five-star talents Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews, Abdou Torre, and Miika Muurinen. If Thompson does in fact reclassify, he will provide great point guard depth behind Smith and Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson.
In the last few weeks, I have not written an update on the Arkansas men’s basketball off-season. Now, that has changed.
Over the last couple of weeks, four Razorbacks participated in the NBA combine, Miika Muurinen signed his national letter of intent, Kenny Payne bolstered his front court with a commitment, and the NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline has passed, meaning Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III have made decisions on their futures.
Here is everything you need to know about everything going on during the last few weeks in Arkansas men’s basketball:
Billy Richmond III returns to Fayetteville for junior year
On Wednesday, May 27, the NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline came and went with two Razorbacks making their decisions on whether they want to stay in the draft or come back to Fayetteville for another season.
Arkansas wing Billy Richmond III will return to Fayetteville for his junior season, as confirmed by a university source. CBS College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein originally reported that Richmond was going to stay in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, Rothstein later reported that “Richmond has just switched course and will return to Arkansas next season, per his agent Bill Duffy of WME.”
Richmond scored 11.2 points, added 4.3 rebounds, and two assists per game while shooting 56.3% from the field. He scored in double-digits four of the last five games of the season.
The Memphis native waited until the final day for prospects to withdraw from the NBA Draft for his decision to be made public.
Richmond’s decision to return is huge for Arkansas’ chances to contend for an SEC Championship and compete in another NCAA Tournament next spring.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft and he will not return for his sophomore season.
Thomas was huge for the Razorbacks he averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 points, and 2.5 assists per game during his freshman season.
The Overtime Elite Alum scored 17 points or more in each of Arkansas’ three NCAA Tournament games and was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week the last week of the regular season after averaging 21.5 points in games against Texas and Missouri.
In the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss, he dropped 29 and was 4-7 from three point range. His awesome performances led him to be named to the All-SEC Freshman Team.
The Pittsburgh native has been mocked at the end of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. He performed in the NBA Combine before making his decision to stay in the draft and measured at 6-foot-2 inches, 185.8 pounds, had a wingspan of 6-foot-7 inches and a standing reach of 8-foot-2.5 inches. He didn’t play in any of the combine scrimmages.
Five-star forward Miika Muurinen has officially signed his national letter of intent, it was confirmed by the official Arkansas Razorbacks athletics website.
Muurinen, a Järvenpää, Finland native, was rated a five-star prospect by ESPN and 247 Sports. The Rivals/On3 Industry ranks him a four-star, the No. 15 prospect in the country and No. 2 power forward in the 2026 class.
On the Finland National Team, Muurinen was named as the first ever FIBA EuroBasket Rising Star award winner after helping Finland to a historic fourth place finish at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Championship. He averaged 6.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in eight games. He played 12 minutes with nine points as Finland upset a Nikola Jokic-led Serbia team 92-86 in the Round of 16. In the third place game, he played 10 minutes and scored five points as his team lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece.
During the 2025-2026 season, Muurinen played with Partizan KK, a club competing in the EuroLeague and the ABA League (Adriatic League). His first ABA League game was a win against Krka on Oct. 6, where he recorded seven points, two rebounds, two assists and one block in 17 minutes. In one of his final games with Partizan KK (Dec. 28, 2025), scored a season-best 10 points vs KK Split.
Overall, he played minutes in 14 games for with Partizan KK 8 in ABA and 6 in EuroLeague games. He scored 33 points with 23 rebounds in ABA games and scored 1 point in EuroLeague games. He left Partizan in late-February 2026 to pursue playing collegiately in the NCAA.
As a sophomore in 2023-2024, Muurinen moved to the United States and played at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. he played for Arizona Compass Prep for his junior season in 2024-2025. Before leaving the United States to play for Partizan KK, he played for Bradley Beal U16 Elite and won the Nike EYBL Peach Jam tournament, scoring 21 points in the final. He was joined by fellow freshman Razorback teammate JJ Andrews on the Bradley Beal Elite roster.
Muurinen originally committed to Arkansas back on Monday, April 27.
Maper Maker makes visit to Fayetteville; commits to Arkansas
Arkansas hosted center Maper Maker on a campus visit the weekend of May 8-10. Maker played for Bella Vista Prep in California and was a four-star recruit in the class of 2025.
Coming out of high school, he held offers from Arizona State and Oregon. He played last season for AUNZ Prep in Australia.
Earlier this year, the team played in a three-day showcase in Mesa, Arizona, and Maker scored 35 points in a win over Arizona Compass.
On Sunday, May 24, Maker committed to play for Arkansas in an Instagram post.
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. and forward Trevon Brazile joined Richmond III and Thomas at the 2026 NBA Combine a few weeks ago.
At the combine, Acuff Jr. measured in at 6-foot-2 barefoot and weighs 185.8 pounds. He has a wingspan of 6-foot-7 and a standing reach of 8-foot-2.5. Brazile measured in at 6-foot-9.5 and weighs 225.6 pounds. He has a wingspan of 7-foot-3.5 and a standing reach of 9-foot-1.
Acuff Jr. is a projected top ten pick in the NBA Draft. Brazile is supposed to be selected somewhere in the second round.
NCAA Tournaments officially expands to 76 teams The brackets of the Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships will increase from 68 to 76 teams starting in March of 2027.
According to the NCAA’s official announcement, adding eight teams to the tournament fields “[creates] additional championship participation opportunities for student-athletes and more exciting matchups for fans.”
The NCAA will also prove additional financial support for all 76 teams that appear in each tournament, increasing the dollars available to both basketball programs and through revenue-sharing.
The expansion and financial increase were approved by the Division I men’s and women’s Basketball Committees, the Division I men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees, and the Division I Finance Committee, the Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Board of Governors.
“Providing additional access to the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships for Division I programs will be incredibly meaningful, especially to the student-athletes of the eight additional men’s and women’s programs that receive these coveted bids,” said NCAA Board of Governors Chair Jim Phillips, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. ‘The leadership by President Charlie Baker as well as Dan Gavitt, Lynn Holzman and JoAn Scott has been outstanding. We also appreciate the support of our broadcast partners and corporate champions and partners in making this a reality.”
The eight extra bids mean 21% of teams have a spot in the NCAA’s basketball postseason. Before expansion, championship access for basketball teams was at 18%, the lowest among major team sports.
More championship opportunities for student-athletes Expansion will create more opportunities for basketball student-athletes to compete in one of college sports’ premier postseason events, without affecting the regular season or conference championship schedules.
The growth in tournament participation reflects the steady rise in Division I programs. Since 1985, the number of Division I women’s basketball teams has increased from 277 to 359, while men’s programs have grown from 282 to 361.
The women’s championship began in 1982 with 32 teams. The field expanded by eight teams in both 1986 and 1989, then reached 64 teams in 1994. It remained at that size until 2022, when it grew to 68 teams. With the latest expansion, the women’s tournament has added 12 teams since 2022.
The men’s championship started in 1939 with just eight teams. The field doubled to 16 in 1951 and later expanded from 32 to 40 teams in 1979, from 40 to 48 in 1980, and from 53 to 64 in 1985. The tournament stayed at 64 teams until 2001, when it increased to 65, and then to 68 in 2011.
The NCAA will continue to cover transportation, lodging, meals, and other related expenses for teams competing under the expanded format.
As has been the case since 2011, the men’s championship will begin on the Tuesday following Selection Sunday, with the 2027 tournament tipping off on March 16. However, the Opening Round format will expand. Instead of two games on Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, there will now be three games each day in Dayton and three games on each of those days at a second site that has yet to be announced. In total, 12 games will make up what will now be known as the March Madness Opening Round.
The remainder of the men’s tournament schedule will stay the same, with the round of 64 played Thursday and Friday, the round of 32 on Saturday and Sunday, and no changes to regional rounds or the Men’s Final Four.
The women’s tournament calendar will also remain unchanged. Opening Round games in 2027 will take place Wednesday and Thursday, March 17–18, and will be conducted on the campuses of 12 of the top 16 seeds selected to host. The round of 64 will be played Friday and Saturday, while the round of 32 will take place Sunday and Monday. Regional competition will take place March 26 and 29 in Philadelphia and Las Vegas, while the Women’s Final Four will be played April 2 and 4 in Columbus, Ohio.
The 76-team brackets will include an automatic qualifier from each conference, along with the best at-large teams selected by the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees. The lowest-seeded 12 automatic qualifiers, as determined by the committees, will compete in half of the Opening Round games, while the other six games will feature the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams.
Teams will continue to be matched based on their position on the committees’ overall seed lists, which rank all 76 teams. For example, seed 75 may play seed 76 in one Opening Round game, while the lowest-seeded at-large team selected to the field may face the second-lowest-seeded at-large team. Adjustments may be made to avoid regular-season rematches or for geographic considerations. The committee will continue to use existing principles and procedures to avoid matching teams from the same conference in the Opening Round and the round of 64 when possible.
“The expanded Opening Round for the NCAA tournaments will now feature 12 automatic qualifiers and 12 total at-large teams, resulting in highly competitive matchups and greater access to the opportunity to compete for the championship for the eight new at-large bids,” Division I Men’s Basketball Committee Chair Keith Gill said, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference. “During the last two years of the tournaments, men’s and women’s teams seeded 15 or 16 are winless in 32 first-round games. Moving forward nearly half of the 28 men’s and women’s teams seeded on the 15 and 16 lines will win at least one tournament game. March Madness is the best postseason in all of sports, and this new format will continue that legacy by producing even more compelling games for fans and student-athletes.”
“The growth of women’s basketball has been phenomenal in recent years, and we are pleased to be able to offer additional opportunities to the student-athletes and teams that earn them,” said Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Amanda Braun, athletics director at Milwaukee. “The committees took our charge seriously, and we believe this is responsible stewardship of the championship.”
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
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
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.
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.
Billy Richmond III declares for 2026 NBA Draft Arkansas wing Billy Richmond III declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced. Richmond III announced the news on his Instagram Friday night ahead of the draft entry deadline.
The sophomore wing averaged 11.2 points, added 4.3 rebounds, and two assists per game over the 2025-2026 season.
Richmond III joins freshman guards Meleek Thomas, who also kept his college eligibility, and Darius Acuff Jr. as Razorbacks that have entered the NBA Draft. Forward Trevon Brazile and center Nick Pringle have exhausted their eligibility.
Wing Isaiah Sealy and center Paulo Semedo have announced that they will return for their second seasons in Fayetteville, joining incoming freshmen Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews, and Abdou Torre and transfers Cooper Bowser and Jeremiah Wilkinson.
Now that John Calipari has Richmond III’s news, he can put his full focus on building a front court with Bowser and Semedo the only two options on the roster currently.
Darius Acuff Jr. declares for the 2026 NBA Draft Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. announced his intentions to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft today on ESPN’s NBA Today.
Acuff Jr. scored 23.5 points, added 6.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and shot an impressive 48.4% per contest. In the SEC Tournament Championship game, he helped the Razorbacks to an 86-75 win against Vanderbilt with a double-double by scoring 30 points and adding 11 assists.
The unanimous All-American helped Arkansas reach their fifth Sweet 16 appearance in six seasons with 36 points and six assists to help the Razorbacks overcome High Point.
Acuff Jr. swept the honors as SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a member of the All-SEC First Team, and was the Bob Cousy Award winner as the nation’s top point guard.
The Detroit native joins fellow freshman guard Meleek Thomas in the NBA Draft, however he kept his collegiate eligibility unlike Acuff Jr., who did not. John Calipari and the Razorback staff await Billy Richmond III’s decision on his future, whether he will join Thomas and Acuff Jr. or return for his junior season.
High-end five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. is expected to replace Acuff Jr. as the top player for Arkansas as Calipari fills the roster following the transfer portal closing last night. Fellow freshmen JJ Andrews and Abdou Torre and incoming transfers Cooper Bowser, Jeremiah Wilkinson join Smith Jr. on the current Arkansas roster.
Wing Karter Knox, guard DJ Wagner, forward Karim Rtail, center Elmir Dzafic, guard Jaden Karuletwa, and center Malique Ewin have exited the program via the transfer portal. Forward Trevon Brazile and center Nick Pringle have exhausted their collegiate eligibility after completing the 2025-2026 season with the Razorbacks.
The transfer portal has finally closed for men’s college basketball after two, crazy weeks on Tuesday night. That does not mean that the news stops, though.
Two of Arkansas’ players entered the transfer portal this week before it closed Tuesday night. Plus, thousands of transfers have not announced their plans on who they will play for next, so John Calipari and his staff will still be at work putting together their roster.
Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle are out of eligibility, Meleek Thomas has entered the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, and six Razorbacks have entered the transfer portal but Billy Richmond III and Darius Acuff Jr. have yet to make decisions on their futures.
Here is what happened over the last couple of days in the world of Razorback basketball, beginning with two last-minute transfer entries:
Jaden Karuletwa enters transfer portal Sophomore guard Jaden Karuletwa is entering the transfer portal, per a report from Verbal Commits on Monday, April 20. The Sun Valley, California native appeared in 13 games across two seasons for the Razorbacks. He scored 5 points, all coming in a 108-80 win against Queens back on Dec. 16, over his two years in Fayetteville.
Karuletwa has two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.
Malique Ewin joins five other Razorbacks in the portal Senior center Malique Ewin entered the transfer portal hours before it closed on Tuesday evening, April 21. Ewin will need a waiver to receive an extra year of eligibility.
The former Ole Miss Rebel and Florida State Seminole averaged 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, one block and one steal a game while shooting 59% from the field and 73.9% from three-point range.
Ewin played his best game of the season against Hawaii in the Round of 64. He recorded a double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block to help Arkansas defeat the Rainbow Warriors 97-78.
He joins Karter Knox, DJ Wagner, Karim Rtail, Elmir Dzafic and Karuletwa as Razorbacks in the portal.
Transfer signee Jeremiah Wilkinson to visit Fayetteville Wednesday Incoming transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson is expected to be in Fayetteville on Wednesday for his campus visit according to a report from Whole Hog Sports.
The former Georgia guard averaged 17.4 points, two rebounds, 1.7 assists, and shot 41% from the field for the Bulldogs last season. He scored 30 points in their 102-77 loss to Saint Louis in Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
The transfer portal has been open for a full week and Arkansas finally received a commitment from a prospective player. There has been some movement for the Razorbacks with an NBA Draft decision, getting their first transfer on campus for a visit, an assistant coach is on his way out, and two Arkansas bigs are ‘portaling’ after limited roles during their freshmen seasons.
With one week left for players to enter the transfer portal, there should be much more action this week in Fayetteville with transfer visits and NBA Draft decisions. Enjoy the recap of this last week below:
Razorbacks get first transfer on campusfor visitand a commitment
Arkansas is hosting 6’11 Furman forward Cooper Bowser for an official visit. Bowser began his visit yesterday and will exit campus today after meeting with the coaches and touring the campus and facility.
Bowser scored 13.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and shot an incredible 76.6% from the field during his junior season in Greenville, South Carolina. His height would fill the Razorbacks’ need but he would need to get in the gym and get bigger if he wants to join John Calipari’s squad and play meaningful minutes as a senior in Fayetteville.
His visit ended with a commitment on Tuesday morning. Bowser pledged to Arkansas in an Instagram post.
Meleek Thomas declares for NBA Draft but keeps options open
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas announced his plans to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility on Monday, April 13 in an Instagram post.
Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game and shot 43.5% from the field this season. The freshman has until May 27, the NBA Draft deadline, to decide if he wants to fully to become a professional or return for his sophomore season in Fayetteville.
One of Calipari’s assistants joining Malone in Chapel Hill
On Tuesday, April 7, North Carolina named former Denver Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone as their new head man. A day later, reports surfaced that Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin would join Malone with the Tar Heels.
Martin previously worked with Malone from 1999-2000 at the University of Manhattan and will rejoin him as his associate head coach in Chapel Hill.
Martin leaves Calipari’s staff after three seasons working under him. He spent one season with him in Lexington at Kentucky and the next two in Fayetteville at Arkansas.
Calipari will have to find a new recruiting director after Martin got the Wildcats the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in 2024, and back to back top ten ranked classes for the Razorbacks in 2025 and 2026.
On the same day Malone was hired in Chapel Hill, Razorback forward Karim Rtail entered the transfer portal. Rtail did not play this season for Arkansas and decided to redshirt after season-ending back surgery.
The freshman from Lebanon previously played in the National Basketball League in Lithuania before enrolling in Fayetteville. He played in 35 games in 2024-2025, averaging 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
He will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting the 2025-2026 season.
That same night, Razorback center Elmir Dzafic became the fourth Arkansas player to enter the transfer portal. Dzafic saw limited action in his first season of collegiate action behind Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin.
The Bosnian scored under a point and a rebound per contest in his one season on “The Hill”. Before his time in Fayetteville, he spent two seasons with KK Bosna Sarajeva (2023-2024 and 2024-2025), the top-tier professional league in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He becomes the fourth Arkansas player to enter the portal. He will have three seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining.
