9. Arkansas Razorbacks
Likely departures
- Darius Acuff (23.5 ppg and 6.4 apg)
- Trevon Brazile (13 ppg and 7.3 rpg)
- Malique Ewin (9.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg)
- Karter Knox (8.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg)
- Nick Pringle (4.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
Likely returneesÂ
- Billy Richmond (11.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
Key decision to watch
- Meleek Thomas (15.6 ppg and 2.5 apg)
Acuff proved to be not only one of the best players in the freshman class, but also one of the best in the entire country. He’s a projected lottery pick in the NBA Draft and will definitely be gone. But Thomas, the other five-star prospect out of high school who excelled this past season, has a tougher decision. Most boards have him between 25-40, and that may not be good enough for him to stay. Assuming he’s back, Thomas could be the Preseason SEC Player of the Year.
There’s not much else returning for the Razorbacks, with Ewin’s potential waiver request for another year potentially something to watch. Even without Knox, Richmond has a chance to break out as well.
Ultimately, a Coach John Calipari roster will come down to the effectiveness of the incoming freshmen class. Jordan Smith Jr. is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class and will replace Acuff as the next young freshman star for his roster. JJ Andrews is a five-star guard prospect joining the team, while Abdou Toure is a top-30 wing to watch. They will be a young yet talented group to contend with again.