Signees Thompson, Ourigou on way to Arkansas a year early FAYETTEVILLE – Five-star guard Davion Thompson and four-star big man Caleb Ourigou have both announced their intentions to reclassify into the 2026 class and play for Arkansas this season.
Thompson originally announced his commitment to John Calipari and the Razorbacks back on June 10. He chose Arkansas over Baylor, Michigan and Vanderbilt. He announced his plans to reclassify on July 17.
Thompson, a 6-foot-2 and 185-pound point guard, played his high school basketball at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri. He is ranked as No. 21 overall player and No. 5 overall point guard in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247Sports composite recruiting rankings.
Thompson has put up incredible numbers this spring on the Nike EYBL circuit with his Meanstreets squad, averaging an impressive 21.7 points on 52% shooting from 3-point range on nearly eight attempts per game to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Caleb Ourigou committed to Arkansas on July 14 following an official visit in late June. One week later, on July 21, he announced his decision to reclassify after his AAU team, the New York Rens, was eliminated from Peach Jam.
Ourigou spent his junior season with Atlanta-based Overtime Elite, where he averaged 6.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game for the Cold Hearts while shooting 62% from the field. He elevated his production at Peach Jam, posting 6.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game on 59.3% shooting in 28.2 minutes per contest.
The Woodmere, New York native stands 6-foot-10 (with shoes) and boasts a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He is a long, physical, and athletic forward who embraces contact in the paint. Ourigou shows a soft touch around the rim and flashes long-term shooting upside.
He arrives in Fayetteville as a key piece in Arkansas’ retooled frontcourt after the Razorbacks lost their entire group of big men to expired eligibility. Ourigou joins Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, international prospects Ilia Frolov and Maper Maker, and returning forward Paulo Semedo to form a new-look front court for the 2026–27 season.
Frolov, Maker, Ourigou and Thompson all signed with the Razorbacks on Tuesday.
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.
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.
A month ago, I tried to write a blog post about Bronny James and Mikey Williams (Bronny’s former AAU teammate) and their recruitments. I could not find any information about James, who despite being LeBron’s son, was not getting that much buzz on recruitment sites.
But, in the last month, five schools have emerged with interest in Bronny. According to an sbnation report, the interest comes from schools such as Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. He will not play in the NBA G-League, Overtime Elite, or any other pro league before entering the NBA Draft after he becomes eligible according to multiple reports.
Michigan At first when I looked at this option for Bronny, I questioned why he would ever end up in Ann Arbor. LeBron James always said that if he went to college it would’ve been at Ohio State, Michigan’s main rival. But, a former teammate of LeBron’s (on the Miami Heat), Juwan Howard, is the head coach of the Wolverines. I can’t see James not going there for that reason alone, but this does not seem like Bronny’s landing spot.
Ohio State Any team would love to have the son of LeBron James but if Bronny ended up in Columbus at Ohio State, he would be the proudest dad on the planet. As I mentioned above, LeBron said he would have attended OSU had he gone to college instead of going to the NBA. This might be the most likely option for James outside of the Pac-12 schools because of that very reason. James also went to an Ohio State football game with his dad, and the fans shouted “We want Bronny” making their want for Bronny a program and fan thing. (Bronny has since visited Ohio State).
Oregon With Nike headquarters in Eugene and Dana Altman, arguably the top coach in the Pac-12, no one would blame Bronny if he headed up northwest from his LA area home. Altman loves guards that play well on and off the ball, and James fits that mold.
UCLA and USC I grouped these two schools together just because they bring very similar options. UCLA has won 11 national championships and give Bronny an option to stay close to his family. UCLA coach Mick Cronin has already led the Bruins to back to back NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2021, the Bruins appeared in the Final Four and last season they made it to the Sweet 16. For USC, coach Andy Enfield has been a model of consistency. The Trojans too have made runs in the NCAA Tournament back to back seasons. James would be a good fit both places because of his basketball IQ and willingness to play both guard spots.
As of now, my prediction stays with Ohio State for Bronny. Duke and Memphis have also been showing Bronny interest, and there is a likelihood that both schools will get as involved with Bronny as the above five have.
(Memphis has since reportedly offered Bronny a scholarship and Duke and North Carolina have continued to show interest).
New Jersey born point guard DJ Wagner is the top ranked high school basketball player in the 2023 247sports composite. But, where will the son of former NBA guard Dajuan Wagner attend school? Well, that is what we are here to find out:
Kentucky Entering Wagner’s high school career, much of the college basketball media believed it was Kentucky versus the field for the 5-star guard. DJ Wagner’s father Dajuan Wagner played for current Kentucky head coach John Calipari. They have seemed like the favorite ever since as Calipari has coached NBA talent at both Memphis in Derrick Rose and Kentucky in John Wall, Karl-Anthony Towns, and others. But, it gets more interesting when readers here what Louisville has to offer.
Louisville Entering last college basketball season, Kentucky was seemingly the only place for DJ Wagner to go to school and play ball. But in March of this year, Louisville named former NBA and Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne as their new head coach. Payne played with DJ’s grandfather, Milt Wagner, on Louisville’s 1986 championship team. Milt was hired as the program’s director of player development and alumni relations.
According to an ESPN article, Dajuan Wagner said he’ll be happy wherever his son ends up. But, where do you think DJ Wagner will attend college and play hoops?
Hey guys, since college football returned today, I decided to make a college basketball news post. Here it is:
On Wednesday, Forward Emoni Bates joined big man Jalen Duren as Memphis commits and will join the program this year. Earlier this month, I wrote about Bates and Duren announcing they would skip their senior year and reclassify from 2022 to 2021. The once clear top two prospects in the class of 2022 are now ranked number four and five respectfully in the 2021 247Sports Composite. Bates chose Memphis over the G-League, Michigan State (where he was formerly committed to), and Oregon. Duren picked Memphis over the G-League, Kentucky, Miami, and the Australian NBL.
(Sorry guys there wasn’t much other than that. Make sure you are ready for my week 1 college football preview, coming out on Thursday :).
The consensus top two players in the 2022 247sports 150, forward Emoni Bates and big man Jalen Duren are both moving forward in reclassifying to 2021. Although both reclassifications are not “officially official”, both are down to their final schools. Duren is down to Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, the NBA G-League, and the NBL. Bates is down to Memphis, Michigan State (where he is formerly committed to), NBA G-League, and Oregon. Many think the two could team up at the next level as both played for Team Final, the same AAU team this summer at either Memphis or the G-League.
Huge college basketball games are coming up this season as we are 98 days away from this season. Gonzaga and UCLA are set for a rematch of their awesome Final Four game on November 23. The Zags will also face Duke three days later on November 26.
The NCAA Board of Governors has agreed to-season or not-give seniors playing fall sports an extra year of eligibility. Football players will get to stay a year more if they choose, which will not count towards the 85 scholarship limit next season.
Senior QB Feleipe Franks, RB Rakeem Boyd, OL Myron Cunningham have been named to the Senior Bowl watch list.
BASKETBALL:
The biggest news of last week was when former All-SEC Guard Isaiah Joe announced he had changed his decision to return to Arkansas, and he will enter the 2020 NBA Draft. Joe changed his decision due to the unprecedented fall sports seasons coming in 2020.
Ranked number nine in the 2020 ESPN 100, Forward Greg Brown made his college announcement on Friday. The McDonald’s All American selection chose hometown Texas over Auburn, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan, or the NBA G-League for a year. Brown heads to Texas just like his dad before him, who played football for the Longhorns.
Memphis Forward Precious Achiuwa has decided to enter his name into the 2020 NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit signed with an agent, so he cannot return to school in the fall of 2020. The American Athletic Conference Player of the Year he averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game during his lone season in Memphis.
Many consider center Matt Haarms the top available tansfer. The former Purdue big man committed to play his final season at BYU on Friday. Haarms chose BYU over Kentucky and Texas Tech after being contacted by 25 plus schools when he entered his name into the portal.
Another top international big man Daniel Batcho has committed to Arizona. Batcho posted plus twenty points and plus ten rebounds in many big games.
3.North Carolina
11.Day’Ron Sharpe (#2C) Winterville,NC (Montverde)
14.Walker Kessler (#4C) Fairburn,GA (Woodward)
17.Caleb Love (#3PG) Saint Louis,MO (Christian Brothers)
39.RJ Davis (#8PG) White Plains,NY (Archbishop Stepinac)
4.Michigan
36.Hunter Dickinson (#7C) Hyattsville,MD (DeMatha)
71.Zeb Jackson (#14SG) Toledo,OH (Montverde)
76.Terrance Williams (#14PF) Washington,DC (Gonzaga College)
NR.Jace Howard (#66SF) Fort Lauderdale,FL (NSU University)
5.Tennessee
16.Jaden Springer (#3SG) Charlotte,NC (IMG)
26.Keon Johnson (#5SF) Bell Buckle,TN (The Webb)
73.Corey Walker (#12PF) Jacksonville,FL (Hargrave Military)
NR.Malachi Wideman (#29SG) Sarasota,FL (Riverview)
6.Arkansas
38.Moses Moodey (#10SG) Little Rock,AR (Montverde)
82.KK Robinson (#20PG) Little Rock,AR (Oak Hill)
83.Davonte Davis (#18SG) Jacksoville,AR (Jacksonville)
88.Jaylin Williams (#13C) Fort Smith,AR (Northside)
Here’s what to make about consensus top three prospect Jalen Green’s decision to forgo college basketball (whether that be at Auburn and Memphis) and go to the NBA G-League.
First, things first. The G-League has become a great option recently for top prospects. Spend a year in the developmental league and then move on to the real thing. Playing basketball and being paid in the G-League has to be a more enticing option for Green, considering the uncertainty of schools opening on time and thus the start of the college basketball season.
A big con for Green’s G-League decision is that he doesn’t get the exposure that players like Zion Williamson and Trae Young, got to turn into top five picks in the NBA Draft. Players like Williamson got to be on national television at least thirty times during their lone seasons playing college basketball. Plus everyone watches them for three weeks in March.
It’s a tough hit for Penny Hardaway’s program at Memphis. Memphis is far removed from their top ranked class in 2019. Hardaway’s plan was to pair Green with fellow uncommitted top ten prospect Greg Brown. But all signs point to Brown staying home and signing with Texas. Bruce Pearl and Auburn have had a successful 2020 recruiting cycle so its nothing more than a guy they lost to another team or school.
Jalen Green’s decision is made even bigger considering the fact that next year’s recruiting cycle (the 2021 class) is widely considered the last class with “one and done” rule in place. The NCAA will make changes that will likely take high school basketball back to a place where top prospects can enter the NBA after their senior years in high school. College basketball will be greatly effected by this but that’s for another post.
Ranked number ten in the 2020 ESPN 100, Five-Star Shooting Guard Josh Christopher is one of the lone 2020 prospects that has not signed. He ends his long recruitment with a decision today. Also to note, even if Christopher makes his decision before 2 PM CT (when this post goes up), I’ve been working on the post way before then. Anyway let’s take a look at the contenders to land Josh Christopher.
Arizona State:I’m sure Coach Bobby Hurley wants him to come to Tempe but even with Christopher’s brother playing there, it seems unlikely. It might be the second closest to home for him (he’s from California) but again, the Sun Devils seem like their third in the running at this point.
Michigan:Michigan Head Coach Juwan Howard started recruiting Christopher the minute he walked into Ann Arbor. Howard helped Michigan get to be the definite favorite to land his services and it may not be close.
Missouri:Missouri doesn’t belong here. After searching reliable source articles, there is nothing mentioned about how the tigers will land Christopher.
UCLA:UCLA was the early favorite to land Christopher. Once Forward Shareef O’Neal transferred to LSU, the UCLA coaching staff stopped recruiting Christopher heavily, so they could be called a “far away” second place in the race for Josh Christopher.
Prediction:I’m going with Michigaan because they have been committed to him most since Juwan Howard was named head coach.
Iowa All American Center Luka Garza announced he is entering his name into the draft but keeping his elgibility by not signing with an agent. He would be a senior if he returns next season.
Ranked number one in the 2020 ESPN 100, Five-Star Shooting Guard Jalen Green will announce his decision next Friday April 17. The Fresno,California product will decide between Auburn, Florida State, Memphis, Oregon, and USC. ESPN’s number two ranked player, Five-Star big man Evan Mobley signed with USC, where he will team up with his dad (assistant coach) and Isaiah (fellow big man) in Los Angeles. ESPN’s number three ranked player, Five-Star Point Guard Cade Cunningham signed with Oklahoma State.
Duke big man Vernon Carey Jr. announced his intentions to enter the 2020 NBA Draft. Carey averaged eighteen points and nine rebounds per game in his single season in Durham.
Arizona Freshman Guard Josh Green announced he was entering the 2020 NBA Draft after averaging almost twelve points and almost three assists per game in his lone season in Tucson.
Former Kentucky wing Kahlil Whitney, who withdrawed from school in January, has signed with an agent and will enter the 2020 NBA Draft.
Creighton grad transfer Davion Mintz committed to Kentucky on Friday. The Point Guard averaged ten points, three assists, and three rebounds in 2018-19.
Former Columbia Guard Mike Smith will grad transfer to Michigan. The All-Ivy League guard averaged almost twenty-three points and four and a half assists for the Lions. Smith also considered Arizona, Gonzaga, and Seton Hall before deciding on Michigan.
While this isn’t just college basketball news, the NCAA expects to vote on a one-time transfer waiver. They will discuss waiver on April 24 and take a vote on May 20. The NCAA is also expected to make steps regarding student athletes being able to profit off of their name, image, and likeness.
