Arkansas Basketball: Preview the team

By: Randall Slifer

Arkansas Basketball is back, and it could not come at a better time! Are you done with the Football season that unfolded? Well, let’s raise those spirits with some Arkansas Basketball! We are entering Coach Calipari’s 2^nd year as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks after a tough loss in March Madness last April.

Coach Cal’s first year could be interpreted in many ways. I would describe it as a positive surprise when Arkansas was fighting for a March Madness ticket, to turn it into a sweet 16 run. There were a lot of ups and downs last year, but this year’s team still says coach Cal can recruit a dynamite team.

Arkansas Basketball is ranked 14^th in the preseason AP top 25 and 15^th in the Coaches Poll. Coach Cal got some big-time players to come back for another year, and the recruiting class is one of the top pickups in the country. Let’s dive into this team and get ready for the beginning of college basketball:

The big returners

Coach Cal has some great players from last year returning to try to win a championship this year. The four biggest returners to Arkansas are Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond, and DJ Wagner.

Karter Knox (6’6 220lb) should be our starting small forward for the year. Karter started 24 games last year, averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. Karter really came into his own in the second half of the season, averaging 10.4 points per game while shooting 52% from the field and 43% from three. Expect big things from Karter this year and entering the draft next year.

Trevon Brazile (6’10, 230lb) should be our starting power forward for the year. This will be Trevon’s 4^th year in Arkansas as the most veteran piece on the team. Brazile tore his ACL in his rookie season, and the year after was slow getting back to 100%. Brazile really came into his own at the end of the year and during March Madness, helping Arkansas make a run. His defense and offensive rebounding helped Arkansas gain extra possessions, and the duo of Aidoo and Brazile was a force in the paint.

Billy Richmond (6’6 205lb) is a big-time utility player who could be our 6^th man of the year. Billy Richmond can play small or power forward, but last year moved to backup point guard when Boogie Fland went down with an injury. He is a high-energy guy who is one of Arkansas’ top defenders. He will be a March Madness darling this upcoming year.

DJ Wagner (6’4 190lb) should be our starting shooting guard this year and rotating with a new freshman, Maleek Thomas. DJ Wagner was an Arkansas workhorse playing 34 minutes a game, ranking 2^nd in the SEC. DJ Wagner took over at the point guard position after Boogie Fland’s injury. He averaged 11 points and almost four assists per game and was a foundational piece on last year’s team.

Incoming Transfers

Coach Cal dipped into the transfer portal, adding some talented players to round out this team. Coach Cal went big (literally) in the portal, landing Malique Ewin, Nick Pringle, and Karim Rtail.

Malique Ewin (6’10, 240lb) started at Ole Miss but made his way to JUCO. He then became the number one JUCO player in 2023-2024, making his way to Florida State. He had a great year at Florida State, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He had nine career double-doubles last year while adding 32 blocked shots on the year. At 6’10 240lb, he is a beast ready to contribute to Arkansas.

Nick Pringle (6’10 230lb) started in JUCO and became the number two overall JUCO prospect in 2021. He made his way to Alabama as part of a Sweet 16 run, spent a year at South Carolina, and is now on the Arkansas team. Nick Pringle came through against tough competition, posting double-doubles against top-tier teams, including Tennessee and Indiana.

Karim Rtail (6’7 205lb) is from Lebanon and has played overseas in his whole career. He played in the Lithuanian National Basketball League and was a member of the Lebanese FIBA junior national team. Karim averaged 15.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the national team, and he was a key contributor in the National Basketball League. His transition to college basketball should be interesting.

The big-time freshman pickups

The top reason Arkansas basketball fans should be excited for this upcoming season is that Coach Cal went out and got what is possibly the best freshman duo in the country. Maleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr are two freshmen who will be impactful starting day one.

Maleek Thomas (6’5 185lb) is a 5-star prospect from Atlanta, Georgia. He was ranked 13^th nationally and 3rd among shooting guards. He is a combo guard who can play both positions, and his versatility has some sites ranking him as high as 7^th nationally. Maleek Thomas has already been mocked to the 2026 NBA draft as high as a 10^th pick. He is absolutely lethal as a shooter and can create space multiple ways to get this shot off. Maleek averaged 23 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 38% from three. His perimeter shooting will be clutch during the tournament, something that Arkansas has not had in a long time.

Darius Acuff Jr (6’3 190lb) is a 5-star prospect from Bradenton, Florida. He was ranked 5^th nationally and the number one point guard in the country. He is a lengthy point guard with a good build, allowing him to run the offense at his own pace. He can absorb contact well, does not get sped up by half-court or full-court press, and can then run the offense the way he needs to run it. He has explosion and speed at all levels and more than one way to score baskets from mid to short range. Here is a quick synopsis of his high school accolades:

-2025 Allen Iverson National Player of the Year

-2025 Naismith Trophy All America (1^st Team)

-2025 McDonald’s All-American

-2025 USA Nike Hopp Summit Team

Playing for Team USA, Acuff was the Tournament MVP in the FIBA Men’s U18 Americup. He led the USA to the gold medal, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and four assists per game. Darius Acuff will be Arkansas’ starting point guard, and I expect him to help us go far in March and April.

This team is built to win a championship. The veteran leadership is there, and it blends well with all the young talent. Arkansas has played a couple of exhibition games and has looked fantastic. Playing Cincinnati, Arkansas shot 56% from the field and 47% from the three. Coach Cal focuses on his team playing as a team, and each player empowering their teammates to do the best they can. This year for Arkansas Basketball, I expect a lot of fireworks and a lot of fun. As always, Go Razorbacks.