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Sports Illustrated’s Men’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25: No. 14 Arkansas

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Sports Illustrated’s Men’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25: No. 14 Arkansas


Through Oct. 31, Sports Illustrated will count down its preseason college basketball Top 25 with overviews of each team. Here are the full rankings so far.

John Calipari’s first year at Arkansas started slow but ended with a bang, beating Bill Self and Rick Pitino in the span of three days to make a run to the second weekend before losing a heartbreaker to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. For a transition year, it’s hard to argue with the results, even if the route to get there was bumpier than expected. 

This year’s Arkansas roster, Calipari’s first with a full offseason to recruit, looks a lot more complete. There’s potential one-and-done talent here, but this isn’t like his Kentucky teams with a new roster every year. In fact, Arkansas returns a higher percentage of its minutes played than anyone in the SEC, with three starters and a fourth key rotation cog back. 

D.J. Wagner hasn’t had the college career many expected given his recruiting pedigree, but he’s a proven starting-caliber option in the backcourt who took steps forward as a sophomore. Trevon Brazile had an uneven start to his season but was at his best when Arkansas was making its run in March. He scored in double figures in seven out of his final nine games, shot 39% from three in that stretch and brought some serious edge on the boards. Karter Knox also finished strong, with 15 points in the win over St. John’s and 20 against Texas Tech. The former five-star looks like a prototypical sophomore breakout guy. 

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The talent injection around that trio is real. Is it enough to get Calipari back competing for national championships? 

PG: Darius Acuff
SG: D.J. Wagner
SF: Karter Knox
PF: Trevon Brazile
C: Malique Ewin
Key Reserves: G Meleek Thomas, W Billy Richmond, C Nick Pringle

Darius Acuff during a high school basketball game.

John Calipari has been recruiting Darius Acuff (5) since Cal was at Kentucky. / David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Calipari has long coveted Darius Acuff, a Michigan native who Calipari started recruiting when he was at Kentucky. Acuff is an absolute bucket-getter, and while he’s less shifty than Rob Dillingham was, it’s easy to envision a similar role for him in college. Expect to see the ball in his hands more this season, sliding Wagner off the ball. 

Wagner’s minutes could also get pushed by Meleek Thomas, another five-star who has earned a reputation for being one of the most competitive players in the class. He’s a dynamic off-the-dribble scorer and shotmaker, though that style can sometimes lend itself to inefficiency. Finding shots for all of Acuff, Wagner, Thomas, Knox and Billy Richmond will be a challenge. 

Up front, Calipari added a pair of experienced centers from the portal. Malique Ewin didn’t get a lot of attention playing for a bad Florida State team, but he was quietly one of the most productive bigs in the ACC. He’s a highly effective passer, which should add an interesting element to this Razorback offense. Nick Pringle is a proven SEC big from his time at Alabama and South Carolina. He’s not a huge threat offensively, but he’s a big body who’s effective on the boards and can finish around the rim. That platoon should be a huge upgrade from a physicality standpoint from Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic a year ago. 

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For as much firepower as this Arkansas backcourt has, it features almost exclusively guys who need the ball in their hands to have success. Can players like Acuff and Thomas who’ve spent their entire careers being the best player on their teams all the sudden adapt and defer at times? Even their projected starting center, Ewin, is a guy who commands touches. There’s a real fear here that perhaps the whole might not be as good as the sum of the parts. 

This is the most continuity a Calipari team has had since the 2015 Kentucky squad that went 38–1. No one should be expecting that from Arkansas this year, but it’s not unrealistic to expect the Razorbacks to seriously contend at the top of the SEC. At his best, perhaps Calipari’s top attribute was his ability to get players who all believed they were the best player to buy into a team concept. If he can do that with this ball-dominant backcourt, the Hogs should be back in the second weekend … and could maybe go even further than that this March. 

More College Basketball on Sports Illustrated

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Get to know: Arkansas DB commitment John Catlin | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports





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Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights

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Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.

Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.

“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”

The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.

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“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.

With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.

“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”

“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”

Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.

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About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.

About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.



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