In John Calipari's first year at Kentucky in 2009-10, he led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight after they missed out on the NCAA Tournament the previous season. With Calipari now entering his first season as Arkansas basketball head coach, that could be the ceiling for the Hogs after they missed out on March Madness a year ago. The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team doesn't have the history or prestige of UK, but when you hire a coach like Calipari, the expectations will be just as high in Fayetteville as they were in Lexington.
Calipari is one of two coaches to lead three schools to a Final Four, and the 2024-25 Arkansas basketball season will be the 30th anniversary of the Razorbacks' last Final Four appearance. He can only do so much to get the Hogs back to that position, as the Arkansas basketball roster needs the right combination of youth and experience to win in an era of NIL and transfer portal. If you love the Razorbacks, or just want the latest roster updates and college basketball transfer portal news, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at HawgSports, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Arkansas.
The team of insiders at HawgSports.com are providing up-to-the-minute scoop on the latest intel surrounding the Arkansas basketball coaching transition and roster changes. Launched in 2002, HawgSports has established itself as the top source for insider Arkansas basketball coverage. Trey Biddy, Danny West and Connor Goodson have a combined 30 years of experience covering the Razorbacks professionally. And right now, HawgSports is offering 30% off the first year of an annual subscription*, so now is the time to sign up.
The team at HawgSports has full coverage of who is coming and who is going on the Arkansas basketball roster. Head to HawgSports now to see all the insider info.
Arkansas basketball roster departures
Of the 16 players who suited up for former coach Eric Musselman for last year's Arkansas team, just two are returning for 2024-25. One of those, Lawson Blake, scored all of one point a year ago. Arkansas lost its top three scorers: Tramon Mark (16.2 ppg), Khalif Battle (14.8 ppg) and Makhi Mitchell (8.6 ppg). Mark and Battle transferred to other programs, while Mitchell is out of eligibility.
Additionally, players like Davonte Davis, El Ellis and Chandler Lawson, who all started double-digit games last season, are no longer on the team. That leaves Arkansas with a current 10-man roster for the 2024-25 season, consisting of five incoming transfers, three freshmen and two holdovers. Outside of Blake, forward Trevon Brazile is the lone returnee as the Razorbacks are bringing back just 8.7% of their scoring from last season. Join HawgSports to see the latest on all of Arkansas' roster changes.
Arkansas basketball news, roster
The Razorbacks received some good news from the transfer portal in early June when Trevon Brazile announced he was withdrawing from the portal and returning to Arkansas. It came a week after Brazile withdrew his name from the NBA draft, and he was a major contributor for Eric Musselman's unit a year ago. Brazile, a 6-foot-9 forward who still has two years of eligibility remaining, led the Hogs in rebounds (5.9), ranked second in blocks (1.2) and was third in points (8.6) last season.
His return makes the frontcourt the clear strength of the 2024-25 Arkansas basketball team. Calipari landed a pair of 7-footers from the transfer portal in Jonas Aidoo (11.4 points per game at Tennessee) and Zvonimir Ivisic (5.5 at Kentucky). Additionally, forward Adou Thiero (7.2) also followed the coach from Lexington, while wing Billy Richmond is a four-star incoming freshman who averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in his senior season. Join HawgSports to get the latest on all of Arkansas' roster additions.
How to get insider Arkansas basketball roster updates
Calipari has already been in contact with multiple transfers from power-conference teams, so be sure to join HawgSports to see who they are and get the rest of the insider roster news.
Who are the top names Arkansas basketball is pursuing under coach John Calipari, and which power-conference transfers could land in Fayetteville? Go to HawgSports to see their insider information, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Razorbacks, and find out. And reminder, HawgSports is offering 30% off the first year of an annual VIP membership*, so subscribe now before it's too late.
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