Year one under John Calipari at Arkansas can and should be considered a triumph. The team advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament following a rocky start in SEC competition, positioning itself for a shot at the Elite Eight before losing a double-digit advantage against Texas Tech.
Arkansas’ leading trio of scorers (Adou Thiero, Boogie Fland, and Johnell Davis) has departed. Thiero was selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers, Fland transferred to Florida, and Davis graduated following an extensive college tenure. The positive aspect for the Razorbacks is that the roster will enjoy greater stability this year compared to last, as Calipari scrambled to piece together a team from scratch after departing Kentucky after a 15-year tenure.
The standout player returning to the fold is star guard DJ Wagner, who began his career at Kentucky under Calipari. Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III — two former Kentucky commits — are back with the program after having productive seasons, mainly as bench contributors.
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With the player movement period in college basketball nearly complete, it’s time to analyze the rosters of the sport’s elite programs. In this edition, we focus on Arkansas and attempt to predict what their lineup might look like come season start.
Arkansas was one overtime away from having the inaugural season under John Calipari deemed a total success. So, what does the future hold for the Razorbacks? Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander take a deep dive into year two in Fayetteville.
Projected starting lineup
1. Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 | 180 | Fr.
Calipari has a remarkable track record of developing point guards who are NBA-ready. From his time at Memphis and Kentucky, he has mentored future NBA stars such as Derrick Rose, John Wall, Jamal Murray, and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Acuff is poised to be the next elite point guard produced by Calipari. He finished ranked as the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2025 class according to 247Sports and is recognized as a dominant lead guard.
2. DJ Wagner | 6-4 | 190 | Jr.
Wagner is about to embark on his third season in college basketball. He started at Kentucky before transferring to Arkansas to reunite with Calipari last offseason. Wagner was a highly-coveted recruit and averaged a career-best 11.2 points last season. Playing another season of college basketball should provide him with advantages.
3. Karter Knox | 6-6 | 220 | So.
The younger sibling of former Kentucky player Kevin Knox Jr. returns for his second season with the team. Knox was initially committed to Kentucky himself before following Calipari to Arkansas. He started 24 games in the previous season, and he is expected to have a more consistent role in his sophomore year.
4. Trevon Brazile | 6-10 | 230 | Sr.
Brazile will bring the most experience to this starting lineup. After beginning his career at Missouri in 2021, he transferred to Arkansas to play for ex-coach Eric Musselman. He remained the only player with considerable playing experience at Arkansas during the coaching transition. Throughout his career, he has made 59 starts.
5. Nick Pringle | 6-8 | 231 | Sr.
As Pringle takes the court for Arkansas this season, it will mark his third SEC team in as many years. He initiated his career at Wofford in 2020 and was a part of Alabama’s squad two years ago that reached the Final Four for the first time ever. Pringle played last season at South Carolina, making 32 starts.
Off the bench
Meleek Thomas | 6-4 | 205 | Fr.
Thomas was ranked as the No. 13 overall player and the third-best shooting guard in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports. He is anticipated to have a significant role, likely as a bench player, for Arkansas. The McDonald’s All-American is expected to contribute scoring.
Billy Richmond III | 6-9 | 225 | Sr.
Richmond was a part of Arkansas’ impressive 2024 recruiting class and chose to return to college. Last season, Richmond participated in 36 games off the bench, averaging 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
Malique Ewin | 6-8 | 215 | Fr.
Ewin was one of two significant transfers that Arkansas recruited. He ranked as the No. 106 player in the 247Sports transfer rankings. He averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 30 games last season for Florida State. He began his collegiate journey at Ole Miss in 2022.
Completing the roster
Arkansas secured the No. 4 recruiting class for the 2025 cycle according to 247Sports. This talented class is headlined by Acuff Jr. — the top-ranked point guard — and Thomas. Although Calipari did not produce a first-round pick for the first time since 2007, that is anticipated to change, as both Acuff and Thomas are potential first-round selections in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Market watch
Arkansas’ odds to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament (via Fanduel): +3000
The aim for Arkansas as it heads into Year 2 of the Calipari era is to achieve a deeper advancement in the NCAA Tournament. This would necessitate at least reaching the Elite Eight. The Razorbacks had a tough time during the early phase of SEC play under Calipari before things shifted positively. If Arkansas avoids a slow start this year, it has the potential to be among the top contenders in the SEC.
Currently, Arkansas is ranked 14th in odds (alongside Alabama) to win the 2026 national championship. The SEC teams with better odds include Florida (17-1), Kentucky (17-1), and Auburn (25-1). With star players and continuity within the roster, Arkansas should be well-equipped to progress past the initial weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
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