Arkansas Basketball: Who is the Razorbacks’ most important player?

Arkansas Basketball: Who is the Razorbacks’ most important player in 2017-18?

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 17: Head coach Mike Anderson of the Arkansas Razorbacks calls out in the first half while taking on the Seton Hall Pirates in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Arkansas Basketball heads into 2017-18 with the hope that they can continue to improve, but who is the most important player for the Razorbacks next season?

The Arkansas Razorbacks had a phenomenal 2016-17 college basketball season that saw them (questionably) fall to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, Mike Anderson’s team will head into the 2017-18 season without arguably their most important players from a season ago, Dusty Hannahs and Moses Kingsley. These two losses will be hard to overcome, and it could lead to a tough season for the Razorbacks.

The good news for Arkansas, however, is that Anderson’s system of play and the presence of several talented returning guards like Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford – both of whom tossed around heading to the NBA early – means that this team is probably not as far off from the NCAA Tournament as most people believe.

But who is the key to this team’s success?

Arkansas needs multiple players to step up if they are to compete in the SEC and for a spot in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, but no player has to step up more than Dustin Thomas.

Thomas, a 6’8, 225-pound forward out of Texas, transferred to Arkansas from Colorado and spent his first season with the Razorbacks playing limited minutes. His 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over just 18.0 minutes per game imply that he could increase that number significantly.

There are no proven forwards on this Arkansas roster. Sure, several have seen playing time, but Kingsley was the guy for this team the past few seasons. Someone must step up to take his place, and I believe it to be Thomas.

While I do think we have to wait and see whether or not Arkansas can adjust to the departure of Hannahs and Kingsley, Anderson, Macon, and Barford should have this team in a good spot for 2017-18.

Next: Ranking top coaching moves of the offseason

Now, which forward will step up to take their place as the go-to guy for the Razorbacks? That remains to be seen.

Home/Arkansas Razorbacks