FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari admits he is still navigating the “new” version of college hoops, a world in which the 66-year-old’s traditional recruiting style is no longer the norm as free movement via the NCAA transfer portal and the added element of name, image and likeness compensation for players are major variables.
Calipari made it work last season, his first with the Razorbacks after a 15-year run with fellow Southeastern Conference program Kentucky, and proved naysayers wrong.
Still, he isn’t interested in doing things the same way moving forward.
The Razorbacks started SEC play last season with five straight losses but ultimately reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed. Coach Cal has taken a different approach in rebuilding the roster for his second campaign in Fayetteville.
“I came here saying I want eight or nine guys because of NIL. I can’t pick 12,” Calipari said Wednesday. “Now I’m like, ‘Let’s have eight or nine that know,’ but you have other players we’re developing.”
Calipari has long been known as a master recruiter of high school players, regularly collecting classes that ranked among the top 10 nationally at Kentucky and Memphis before that.
Now, though, the transfer portal — and more specifically, relaxed rules regarding immediate eligibility — has changed everything. Recruiting high school stars is not irrelevant, but players from the prep ranks aren’t as big a focus. Instead, it’s about veterans with college experience.
Arkansas had one returning player last season: forward Trevon Brazile, who is also back in Fayetteville for his final year of college eligibility. Calipari built the rest of the roster and used a nine-player rotation; the other five team members played 23 minutes total.
Injuries sapped the Razorbacks of their two leading scorers. Guard Boogie Fland, who has transferred to Florida, played in 21 games, and forward Adou Thiero, who was selected in the NBA draft, played in 26. The two played less than 10 minutes in the Hogs’ season-ending overtime loss to Texas Tech last March. Also gone are center Jonas Aidoo, forward Zvonimir Ivisic and guard Johnell Davis.
AP photo by Wade Payne / South Carolina forward Nick Pringle reacts to being fouled during an SEC regular-season game against Tennessee on March 8 in Knoxville. Pringle has transferred to Arkansas for the 2025-26 season.
The Razorbacks now have two 6-foot-10 transfers in Malique Ewin from Florida State and Nick Pringle from South Carolina, and there are three freshmen on the perimeter. Darius Acuff Jr. and fellow guard Meleek Thomas were five-star recruits, while wing Isaiah Sealy had a four-star label.
On Wednesday, Calipari had practically a full contingent to run through 5-on-5 work, which rarely happened last season.
“Last year, we were always together, but as injuries started peeling off guys, they understood how much they needed each other. The way this is, you probably need to play more people,” Calipari said.
Arkansas reached the NCAA’s Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years despite starting SEC play at 1-5 for the third straight season. That start came as the least experienced team in the league, Calipari said.
This season, Arkansas returns the most production in the SEC, increasing expectations and stakes.
“It’s only 45%, but it’s still the most in our league,” Calipari said in another reflection of how rapidly rosters change now.
DJ Wagner is the only returner who averaged double digits in points in 2024-25. Karter Knox tested the NBA waters before returning, and Billy Richmond was on the court for plenty of key minutes.
There is also Brazile, once considered a possible first-round draft pick before a torn ACL three seasons ago. In his final seven games last season, Brazile averaged 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds.
“I’d tell you he is playing the best ball since I’ve coached him,” Calipari said. “If he’s the guy I’m seeing, you’re talking about someone that we have one or two like that, then this thing is on. He’s that good. Now you’ve got to find out who are the other couple that can make differences in the game.”
The team’s mix of young and old looks familiar to Calipari — and anyone who saw his teams at Kentucky.
Whether the new-old approach to roster building will come to fruition, well, even Coach Cal is unsure.
“None of us know,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out how this is going to work.”