Arkansas
Calipari getting players creating big expectations
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Expectations for Arkansas in John Calipari’s first year are going to be off the charts compared to what Hog fans are used to seeing. They have been high the last few years under Eric Musselman, but this is going to keep climbing, apparently.
Another preseason ranking came out Wednesday and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports has the Razorbacks on a track to be close to the Top 10. Yes, the team that had nobody when Calipari came to town in April is now at No. 13. That’s up a couple of spots after Trevon Brazile decided to come back. That likely played a huge role.
At Utah State last year, Parrish pointed out, Danny Sprinkle took over the program and rocketed them to a big season. He was named coach of the year. The question was asked if Calipari could do the same thing this year.
Razorback fans know all the details. Musselman bolted for USC and the Hogs shocked the basketball world by landing Calipari from a 15-year run at Kentucky where he had the Wildcats at this level every year. Now expectations may start to grow every year at Arkansas.
Brazile started 23 times last year, but only average 8.6 points a game and 5.9 rebounds. That was not what fans (or Musselman) had projected for him. It was part of a dysfunctional season for the Hogs that just kept spiraling downhill amid one wild bit of speculation after another all season. For whatever reason, Brazile hasn’t appeared to be the same since suffering a torn ACL against UNC-Greensboro in December 2022.
Whether they can stay at that level is going to depend on how they fare in an SEC that has seven teams ranked in the Top 25 with Alabama at No. 2. The Crimson Tide will come to Bud Walton Arena at some point (we don’t know when that’s going to be yet) and that will probably be a three-ring circus atmosphere under a couple of big tops.
Now Calipari has to round up the talent to match those expectations. He didn’t inherit anything, but it didn’t seem to particularly bother him as he’d already been recruiting a top-ranked class for the Wildcats and just talked them into following his program to a different town.
“Arkansas is still building, but has already done enough to crack the Top 15 of these rankings,” Parrish wrote.
He’s probably not done, either after getting Johnell Davis (FAU), DJ Wagner (Kentucky), Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee), Adou Thiero (Kentucky) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky), and heralded freshmen Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond.
Other SEC teams in the rankings include Auburn (10), Texas A&M (11), Tennessee (14), Florida (21) and Texas (22). I’ll save you some searching because that’s now five league teams in the Top 15 of the rankings. It’s no longer just a football and baseball league.
Razorback fans’ expectations are only going higher now. Calipari isn’t complaining or dodging it. Nobody among the fans expected anything less.
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CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.
DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.
Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:
- Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
- Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
- Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
- Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)
Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.
“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”
Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security
IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.
The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.
“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.
To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.
Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.
Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.
The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.
The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.
For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.
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