Despite all of the fresh faces inside the Arkansas basketball program this winter, many of the roles within the team already feel predictable.
John Calipari has a group of nine core players in his first season with the Razorbacks. Trevon Brazile — the lone holdover — will stretch the floor and attack the basket off the dribble so fellow big-man Jonas Aidoo can be a defensive enforcer and post presence. Zvonimir Ivišić will be a hub for the offense off the bench with his three-point shooting and passing capabilities.
Johnell Davis was one of the most highly-regarded transfers in the offseason, and he will be the scoring focal point for the Hogs. DJ Wagner and Boogie Fland will join Davis in the backcourt, with both players sharing point guard duties, but Fland spacing the floor as a reliable three-point shooter.
Adou Thiero will do a little bit of everything. The 6-foot-8 wing is Arkansas’ best defensive wing and a capable contributor on offense. If he develops a three-point shot, Thiero could log more minutes than anyone on the roster.
The last two players are the wild cards of the season. Freshmen Karter Knox and Billy Richmond were five-star recruits in the 247Sports Composite rankings and followed Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas with their commitments. They’re both athletic wings with worlds of potential, and they’re development could be the difference between a good or great season in Calipari’s debut.
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Are Richmond and Knox ready to contribute on offense and defense? Does either player have an elite skillset that supersedes some of the older players on the roster? Those questions won’t be answered until there’s more evidence on the court, but both players possess one trait that is a base-line requirement in the transfer-portal era of college basketball.
“They’re physical,” Calipari said at SEC Media Day last week. “If you’re recruiting freshmen now, they’d better physically be able to play against a 22- or 23-year-old, or it’s hard for them to stand out.”
According to recruiting experts, Knox and Richmond came to college more comfortable scoring in the paint than behind the three-point line. Improving their jumpers will be key for both of their developments, not only at Arkansas but for their hopeful careers in the NBA.
Shooting was especially key this offseason for Richmond, who thrived in high school driving to the basket with his preferred left hand. He can also create for others, but he needs opposing defenders to respect his outside shot at the college level.
“Richmond, he’s just got to get more consistent shooting, and where you can shoot where they have to guard you, because when they guard you, you’re going by people,” Calipari said after summer workouts.
Both players have family ties to Calipari. Richmond’s father, Billy Jr., played for Calipari at Memphis. Knox’s brother, Kevin Knox, was a lottery pick coming out of Kentucky in 2018.
According to Calipari, Karter is a different player. They have similar body types, but Kevin was an off-ball player that typically did not initiate the offense. Karter is more physical, and he could be a more versatile player for the Hogs this winter.
“(Karter) can play multiple positions,” Calipari said. “He’s not locked in. If he brings it up, like rebound, bring it up, he’s our point guard. He’s been doing good stuff. Gotten a lot of reps.”
Calipari’s first team at Arkansas is older and smaller in numbers than any of his 15 squads at Kentucky. The long-time head coach is changing his philosophy in many ways with hopes of a deeper run in March compared to recent seasons. Fans will get their first true look at the team this Friday (8 p.m. SEC Network) in a charity exhibition against No. 1 Kansas.
But freshmen promise will always be a pillar of the Calipari experience. Knox and Richmond have undeniable talent and two of the highest ceilings on the roster in regards to the NBA Draft.
How quickly they can acclimate, and what roles they’ll eventually have, are still to be determined.
