With the basketball regular season approaching, the Hoop Hogs will get their first taste of competition Oct. 24 in an exhibition matchup against Cincinnati. In John Calipari’s second season leading the Razorbacks, Arkansas will showcase several new faces along with key returners.
Returning Hoop Hogs
Many remember Calipari’s introductory press conference, where he spoke about building a roster from scratch through the transfer portal and high school recruiting. This season, however, the Hogs bring back several major contributors from last year’s Sweet 16 run in March.
Guard DJ Wagner was the only Hog to start all 36 games last season, averaging 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He ranked second in the SEC in minutes played, and his 1,245 total minutes were the fifth most in program history for a single season. Wagner’s veteran presence in the backcourt will be crucial for the Razorbacks.
Karter Knox withdrew from the NBA draft in the offseason and announced his return to Fayetteville. After a slow start last year, Knox caught fire late, scoring in double digits in six straight games after the Feb. 12 matchup with LSU. In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 13.7 points, five rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
Trevon Brazile also came on strong late in the season after battling injuries and limited minutes early. The 6-foot-10 senior nearly averaged a double-double in March and will look to build on that success. His ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor with 3-point shooting will be a major asset.
Billy Richmond III provided an energetic spark off the bench last season, playing in all 36 games. After Boogie Fland’s injury, Richmond took on a larger role as a backup point guard, bringing aggressive on-ball defense and steady energy.
Ayden Kelley returns as well. Though he saw limited action last year, he provides continuity within the program and will push freshmen for playing time.
Transfer Hoop Hogs
Calipari added some frontcourt reinforcements from the transfer portal, including a familiar face in Nick Pringle, who previously played at South Carolina and Alabama. Pringle posted one of his best games last season against Arkansas, scoring 18 points with nine rebounds and two steals. His physicality and toughness will bolster the Razorbacks’ frontcourt.
Another major addition is Malique Ewin from Florida State. After limited minutes as a freshman at Ole Miss, Ewin emerged as one of the Seminoles’ top players, averaging 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season. He brings an interior scoring threat who can dominate without relying on the perimeter, as shown by his 26-point performance against SMU without attempting a 3-pointer.
Freshmen
Five-star guards Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. headline Calipari’s incoming class and are expected to make an immediate impact. Both were highly coveted prospects and could be one-and-done players bound for the NBA.
In-state standout Isaiah Sealy from Springdale joins the Hogs after averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his senior season. Arkansas also added Amere Brown, the No. 8 prospect from Pennsylvania, who played alongside Thomas in the EYBL for New Heights Lightning.
International Hogs
The Razorbacks added size and international talent in Elmir Dzafic, Karim Rtail and Paulo Semedo.
Dzafic, a 7-footer from Bosnia and Herzegovina, played professionally for KK Bosna Sarajevo and represented his country at the 2023 U-18 European Championship, where he averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Rtail, a 6-foot-7 forward from Lebanon, played the last two seasons in Lithuania’s National Basketball League, averaging 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from the field.
Semedo, a 7-foot-1 prospect from Angola, was ranked No. 50 nationally in the class of 2025 by ESPN. He played last season at West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Florida, and brings long-term potential to Calipari’s roster.
Exhibition Information
Arkansas and Cincinnati are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CST on Oct. 24 at Bud Walton Arena. The game will be televised on SEC Network+.