Arkansas basketball under John Calipari: Insiders say transfer portal news, 2024 roster, recruits, targets

The Arkansas Razorbacks will usher in a new era when the 2024-25 college basketball season begins this fall. Eric Musselman left the program to become USC’s new head coach, and the Hawgs responded by sending shockwaves throughout college basketball when they hired Kentucky’s John Calipari. Calipari spent 15 seasons in Lexington and during that time, he won a national championship and established himself as arguably the best recruiter in the history of the sport.

When Calipari arrived in Fayetteville, he was tasked with building a new Arkansas basketball roster. He had immediate success, assembling the nation’s No. 3 overall and No. 1 transfer class, according to 247Sports. The Razorbacks have eight scholarships guaranteed for next year, with five spots remaining available. If you love the Razorbacks or just want the latest roster updates and news from the college basketball transfer portal, be sure to See what the proven team of experts is saying at HawgSports, the 247Sports affiliate covering Arkansas.

The team of insiders at HawgSports. with are providing up-to-date information on the latest information regarding the Arkansas basketball coaching transition and roster changes. Launched in 2002, HawgSports has established itself as the premier source for inside Arkansas basketball coverage. Trey Biddy, Danny West and Connor Goodson have 30 years of experience covering the Razorbacks professionally. And now, HawgSports is offering 30% off your first year of annual membership*, so now is the time to sign up.

The HawgSports team has complete coverage on who’s making and who’s making the Arkansas basketball roster. Head over to HawgSports now for all the insider info.

Arkansas Basketball Roster Matches

Last year’s Arkansas team returned 36.3% of its scoring on the 2022-23 roster, which is a high rate in this transfer portal era. But this year’s Arkansas Razorbacks team returns 0.0003% of its scoring thanks to the only holdover, Lawson Blake, scoring just one point from a year ago. So, Calipari has a complete roster overhaul to do as the 2024-25 Arkansas basketball team will have no continuity. Double-digit scorers Tramon Mark and Khalif Battle transferred, respectively, to Texas and Gonzaga as part of the mass exodus from Fayetteville.

The Razorbacks’ average age of 22.7 last season was the second oldest in Division I when weighted by minutes. The team is losing nine seniors and even those who lowered their average age have already left. Layden Blocker and Baye Fall, who were freshmen in the Class of 2023 and top-10 national prospects at their respective positions, have since committed to other programs. So while Calipari has done a good job of adding high-profile recruits and transfers, he still only has a seven-man roster, so there’s a lot of work to be done. Join HawgSports for the latest on all of Arkansas’ roster changes.

Arkansas Basketball News, Roster

Calipari’s first Arkansas lineup will have a definite Kentucky feel. Arkansas almost immediately pillaged the Wildcats’ 2024 recruiting class, releasing a trio of four-star prospects who had originally signed to play for Calipari in Lexington. Forward Karter Knox, brother of NBA player Kevin Knox, forward Billy Richmond and guard Boogie Fland, have changed plans and are expected to attend Arkansas in the fall. Each of the three was ranked among the top 25 high school players in the country, according to 247Sports.

Calipari also landed three transfers who played for him as a freshman at Kentucky in 2023-24. Guard DJ Wagner, forward Adou Thiero and center Zvonimir Ivisic will all be in Fayetteville in the fall. Wagner will team with former FAU guard Johnell Davis, who was the No. 3 overall transfer prospect according to 247Sports, to give the Hawgs one of the top backcourts in the SEC. Join HawgSports for the latest on all of Arkansas’ roster additions.

How to get insider Arkansas basketball roster updates

Calipari has already been in contact with several transfers from power conference teams, so be sure to join HawgSports to see who they are and get the rest of the insider news.

Who are the top names Arkansas basketball is pursuing under coach John Calipari, and which transfers from power conferences could land in Fayetteville? Go to HawgSports to Get your inside scoop, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Razorbacks, and find out. And remember: HawgSports is offering 30% off your first year of an annual VIP membership*, so sign up now before it’s too late.

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