Top-25 College Basketball: Arkansas Projected Roster & Outlook
In this series, we'll be taking a closer look at RotoWire's preseason college basketball top-25, with an in-depth roster analysis and projected rotation for the 2025-26 season for each team. Today's feature will be the Arkansas Razorbacks.
13. Arkansas 
Year 1 of the John Calipari era at Arkansas had its ups and downs. In the end, the Razorbacks defeated Kansas and St. John's on their way to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 10 seed before eventually falling in OT to Texas Tech.
There's certainly something to build on, and coach Cal seemed to create a new identity of toughness with this team. Arkansas was 18th in KenPom in defensive efficiency -- the highest mark for a Calipari-led team since the 2018-19 campaign with Kentucky.
There will be a lot of talent departing ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, but there are some exciting new pieces entering the program. Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas are both 5-star recruits and are arguably the two best scoring guards in the entire class. They will quickly help solve some of the offensive inconsistencies this team dealt with last season.
The Razorbacks will also get some experience back with guard D.J. Wagner and Trevon Brazile. Karter Knox and Billy Richmond were two of coach Cal's top recruits a year ago, and both should be back to continue to build on solid freshman campaigns.
Finally, Arkansas added some much needed size following the departures of Jonas Aidoo
Top-25 College Basketball: Arkansas Projected Roster & Outlook
In this series, we'll be taking a closer look at RotoWire's preseason college basketball top-25, with an in-depth roster analysis and projected rotation for the 2025-26 season for each team. Today's feature will be the Arkansas Razorbacks.
13. Arkansas
Year 1 of the John Calipari era at Arkansas had its ups and downs. In the end, the Razorbacks defeated Kansas and St. John's on their way to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 10 seed before eventually falling in OT to Texas Tech.
There's certainly something to build on, and coach Cal seemed to create a new identity of toughness with this team. Arkansas was 18th in KenPom in defensive efficiency -- the highest mark for a Calipari-led team since the 2018-19 campaign with Kentucky.
There will be a lot of talent departing ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, but there are some exciting new pieces entering the program. Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas are both 5-star recruits and are arguably the two best scoring guards in the entire class. They will quickly help solve some of the offensive inconsistencies this team dealt with last season.
The Razorbacks will also get some experience back with guard D.J. Wagner and Trevon Brazile. Karter Knox and Billy Richmond were two of coach Cal's top recruits a year ago, and both should be back to continue to build on solid freshman campaigns.
Finally, Arkansas added some much needed size following the departures of Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic. Enter Malique Ewin from Florida State and Nick Pringle from South Carolina. Both are capable of starting and will bring some toughness to continue the theme from last season.
Check out how injuries are affecting the status of other players & teams on RotoWire's college basketball injury report.
2025-26 Arkansas Basketball Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Darius Acuff (No. 5 in ESPN 100)
SG: D.J. Wagner (11.2 PPG)
SF: Karter Knox (8.3 PPG)
PF: Trevon Brazile (6.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG)
C: Malique Ewin (14.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG at Florida State)
Key Reserves: Meleek Thomas (No. 10 in ESPN 100), Nick Pringle (9.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG at South Carolina), Billy Richmond (5.7 PPG), Isaiah Sealy (4-star Freshman)
Following another active transfer portal period, RotoWire's college basketball depth charts are updated with the latest in roster movement.
2025-26 Full Preseason College Basketball Top-25
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Louisville Cardinals
- Michigan Wolverines
- BYU Cougars
- UConn Huskies
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Auburn Tigers
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- UCLA Bruins
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Arizona Wildcats
- Michigan State Spartans
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Tennessee Volunteers
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Oregon Ducks
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Wisconsin Badgers
