Arkansas Basketball Roster Breakdown, Starting Line -Up For Spelling: Year 2 of the John Calipari era starts

Year 1 of the John Calipari era in Arkansas can and must be labeled a success. The program reached the second weekend of the NCAA tournament after a terrible start of SEC Games, and was in a position to reach the elite eight before he wasted a double digit lead in a loss for Texas Tech.

The top three leading scorers from Arkansas (Adou Thiero, Boogie Fland and Johnell Davis) have continued the program. Thiero was a second round pick through the Los Angeles Lakers, Fland transferred to Florida and Davis graduated after a long university career. The good news for the Razorbacks is that there will be more continuity in this schedule than last year after Calipari clambered to build a selection of the ground after leaving Kentucky after 15 years with the program.

The biggest name that returns to the program is Star Guard DJ Wagner, who started his career at Kentucky with Calipari. Karter Knox and Billy Richmond LLL – two former commitments in Kentucky – return to the program after productive seasons that mainly come from the bank.

With the players’ movement of College Basketball anything but done, it is time to break the gratings of the top programs of the sport. For this episode we look at Arkansas and try to decipher what the line -up could look like when the season starts.

Arkansas was an extension of the inaugural season under John Calipari to be an absolute success. So what will the razorbacks do for an encore? Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander watch a look under the hood in year two in Fayetteville.

Projected Starting Line -Up

1. Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 | 180 | Fr.

Calipari is one of the best in producing point protectors who are ready to play in the NBA. Calipari dating from his stints in Memphis and Kentucky, Calipari coached future NBA stars such as Derrick Rose, John Wall, Jamal Murray and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgouses-Alexander. Acuff stands in line to be the next great Point Guard who produces Calipari. He finished as the number 5 overall player in the recruitment class 2025 by 247Sports and is labeled as a Dominant Lead Guard.

2. DJ Wagner | 6-4 | 190 | Jr.

Wagner starts his third College season. He started his career in Kentucky before switching to Arkansas to follow the last season of Calipari. Wagner is a former strongly affected recruit that on average had a career-high 11.2 points last season. Wagner should take advantage of playing another season of college basketball.

3. Karter Knox | 6-6 | 220 | So.

The younger brother of former Kentucky player Kevin Knox Jr. is back for his second season with the program. Knox was a former Kentucky promise himself before he followed Calipari to Arkansas. He started 24 games last season and his role should be more consistent on his second campaign.

4. Trevon Brazile | 6-10 | 230 | Sr.

Brazile becomes the most experienced player in this starting line -up. After he started his career in Missouri in 2021, he went to Arkansas to play for former coach Eric Musselman. Brazile was the only player with extensive playing experience who stayed in Arkansas when the program went through his coaching transition. He started 59 games in his career.

5. Nick Pringle | 6-8 | 231 | Sr.

When Pringle is looking for Arkansas this season, this marks its third different SEC program in three years. He started his career at Wofford in 2020 and was in Alabama’s team two years ago that reached the last four for the first time in the history of the program. Pringle played in South Carolina last season and started 32 games.

Banking

Meleek Thomas | 6-4 | 205 | Fr.

Thomas was arranged as the number 13 general player and the third ranked shooting guard in the recruitment cycle of 2025 with 247sports. He is expected to play an important role – probably from the bank – for Arkansas. The all-American of the McDonald must add scoring.

Billy Richmond LLL | 6-9 | 225 | Sr.

Richmond was part of the 2024 recruitment class of Arkansas and was one of the handful of players who chose to return to school. Richmond appeared last season in 36 games of the bank and an average of 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Malic Ewin | 6-8 | 215 | Fr.

Ewin was one of the two important transfers that Arkansas brought in. Ewin was arranged as the number 106 general player in the 247Sports transfer rankings. He on average 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 30 games for Florida State last season. He started his career at Ole Miss in 2022.

Fill the schedule

Arkansas also ended with the number 4-arranged recruitment class in the 2025 cycle with 247sports. That class littered with stars is led by Acuff Jr.-De Top-Gerang arranged point guard in the class and Thomas. Calipari did not produce a pick in the first round for the first time since 2007, but that is expected to change with Acuff and Thomas who are both candidates to be selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA -Concept.

Market watch

The chances of Arkansas to win 2026 NCAA Tournament (via Fanduel): +3000

The expectation for Arkansas on the way to year 2 of the Calipari era is to make a deeper run in the NCAA tournament. That would mean a berth – at least – on the Elite Eight. The razorbacks struggled enormously during the first month of SECS game under Calipari before the switch turned. If Arkansas does not start slowly like last year, it should be one of the best contenders in the SEC.

Arkansas currently has the 14th best chances (next to Alabama) to win the national title of 2026. The SEC teams with better chances are currently Florida (17-1), Kentucky (17-1) and Auburn (25-1). The razorbacks have star power and continuity on the Roster. That should be enough to get Arkansas from the first weekend in the NCAA tournament.

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