2023-24 Stats: 26 G, 8.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.2 BPG, 0.7 SPG 48.8% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 69.5% FT
Career Stats (Missouri/Arkansas): 60 G, 8.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.5 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 50.1% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 66.4% FT
The Razorbacks have just one returning scholarship player on the roster in Trevon Brazile, though you could argue we know less about what to truly expect from him than most on the team in John Calipari’s first season.
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The 6-10 forward from Springfield (Mo.) appeared to be well on his way to becoming an NBA Draft pick during his first year in Fayetteville before a torn ACL ended his sophomore season, during which he averaged a career-high 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds, after just nine games. Brazile made 23 starts under Eric Musselman a season ago but rarely looked like the best version of himself while recovering from one injury before suffering another mid-season.
This offseason, first-year head coach John Calipari spoke about admitting to Brazile that the redshirt junior was better than he expected. With a new coaching staff and a new role on the team, the Hogs will be hoping for the version of Brazile that still warrants plenty of next-level interest, as he currently sits at No. 44 (NBA Draft Room) on Sports Illustrated’s 2025 NBA Draft Big Board.
Part of that hope lies in utilizing Brazile’s skill set in the best way possible, which the current regime views to be primarily at the four-spot with some minutes as a small-ball center mixed in from time to time. There’s even a running joke within the team about Brazile and Vladamir Ivisvic not being ‘allowed’ to shoot threes at times in practice.
The Razorback coaching staff is hoping to instill a more physical mindset to the 230-pound Brazile, who has already shown the ability to stretch the floor on offense and alter shots on the defensive end.
“Unbelievable talent, got a lot of tools to work with,” Associate head coach Chin Coleman said of Brazile. “He’s 6-10, he’s long, he’s athletic, very skilled. Our job for TB, in terms of our staff, was to make TB the best version of himself with what we do.
“He’s a lot tougher. He’s not shying away from bumps, because this is a bump game, so you’ve got to be able to win the bump war. TB, he’s embraced us, and we’ve embraced him. We love where he’s at and what he brings to the table. He’s a perfect addition for our team, in terms of having another skilled four guy that can dribble, pass, shoot. He fits so well with us, and so we’re excited about him.”
Brazile will likely come off the bench behind a frontcourt that will include some combination of Adou Thiero, Jonas Aidoo or even possibly Zvonimir Ivisic. It’s a role he excelled in during his best games as a Hog, and it’s one he’s perhaps overqualified for with his talent and experience in the SEC.
Though his percentage decreased last year after returning from injury, Brazile is a 35.4% career three-point shooter on 130 attempts and shot a stellar 37.9% from long range on 3.2 attempts per game in 2022-23. He doesn’t create a ton of offense off the dribble, but he’ll always be a lob threat with his size and athleticism. Given that he won’t be asked to be a focal point, it should allow Brazile to find effective ways to make plays offensively within the flow of the game.
As a defender, physicality is the big question mark, and he’s far from a difference-maker in the rebounding department. He produced an insane 9.9% block rate as a freshman at Missouri before settling into a much more sustainable 4.8% at Arkansas. He averages 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes for his career overall, offering a solid amount of rim protection for a mostly known for his offense.
As is the case for most players on a completely new-look Razorback roster, it’s fair to wonder how Brazile will acclimate to the moving parts around him, but there’s no doubt the third-year Hog is capable of being a nice piece for the Arkansas lineup off the bench and should be in a better position to succeed than he was at this time last year.
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