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re: Arkansas Basketball 2025 (and beyond) Recruiting Thread **PG Darius Acuff Commits**
Posted on 4/30/24 at 3:59 pm to RazorHawg
Posted on 4/30/24 at 3:59 pm to RazorHawg
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Darius Acuff and Isaiah Denis set the tone when their teams faced each other on day one. Their level of production carried onto day two as both prospects shined when facing their respective opponents.
First with Acuff, the top-five junior has easily been the best performing guard on the circuit. He has been an impossible match for any defender guarding him.
At 6-foot-3, he is strong with the ball, elite at changing speeds, and has shown excellent touch scoring the ball from all areas on the floor. Whether left open or being tightly guarded, his jumper has been falling and while he may not be the quickest, he has a knack for breaking down a defense to get wherever he needs to on the floor.
His production comes across as effortless as he has been generating offense with ease throughout his first two days. On the recruiting front, Acuff is fresh off a Kansas official visit and he told 247Sports he has another official scheduled with John Calipari and Arkansas for May 10th-12th.
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AJ Dybantsa leads his team to comeback win
In the final round of U17 games on Saturday, the headline matchup was between the Oakland Soldiers and Team Thad in their own backyard.
With his new Soldiers team, AJ Dybantsa came out and scrapped his way to a victory in a tough, rugged and highly competitive game.
It wasn't pretty by any means but Dybantsa gritted his teeth and found ways to score whether in transition, off the bounce and hitting the occasional jumper.
They got down big, quickly but found a way to climb back and get a three-point win.
Dybantsa finished with 21-points, three rebounds and one assist.
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Jasper Johnson puts up a big effort but falls short
Against the loaded Soldiers squad, what his team may have lacked in talent Team Thad makes up for in toughness and grit. Jasper Johnson being Thad's featured player, the five-star guard put up a strong fight against the No. 1 player in 2025 and the No. 2 player in 2026.
Johnson didn't shy away from the matchup but attacked it head on, being very aggressive as a scorer.
He showed his ability to make shots both off the catch and dribble, finishing above the rim in transition but despite his 21 points, they came up just short.
Johnson has certainly proved himself as a shot-maker and scorer the last year, the next step is staying more engaged on defense and being more active on the boards.
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Posted on 4/30/24 at 4:01 pm to RazorHawg
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Darryn Peterson, the No. 3 ranked prospect in the 2025 class, has completely reopened his recruitment, his father Darryl Peterson confirmed to 247Sports.
The 6-foot-5 guard at Huntington (W.V.) Prep previously had a final eight that included Arkansas, Baylor, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio State. But Peterson watched the chaos of the coaching carousel and transfer portal and decided to reset his recruitment.
"Just reaching out to let you know our recruitment has totally opened back. It's no longer eight schools," the elder Peterson told 247Sports.
There was some speculation that Peterson could reclass to 2024. His father has confirmed that Peterson is planning to stay in the class of 2025. "After talking to Darryn earlier (the) final answer is that we are no longer considering a reclass. We will stay in 2025," he added.
When we last spoke to Peterson at the Adidas 3SSB event in Council Bluffs earlier this month, the plan had been to set up visits with North Carolina, Ohio State and Arkansas. However, that has all changed as well. Peterson will look to set up new visits after seeing Kentucky officially during the season. Those visits are to be determined and nothing has been put in place yet.
Also under consideration is a potential transfer to Atlanta-based Overtime Elite for Peterson's senior season. While he could also return to Huntington, a premium is being put upon preparing for college basketball and being as ready as possible to arrive on campus and compete against older, more veteran rosters.
"At this point with colleges in the transfer portal so heavy we just want to put him in the best environment possible to prepare him and start going against older guys now."
While no exact commitment date has been set, the elder Peterson mentioned that they are currently eyeing July for Darryn's potential college decision.
Peterson is set to return to the court this weekend when his grassroots program, Phenom United, heads to Birmingham, Ala. for the second stop of the Adidas 3SSB circuit. If he plays anything like he did earlier this month in Council Bluffs, it should be electric.
Peterson is motivated to make a run at the No. 1 spot in the 2025 class, and that is entirely possible.
"There simply aren't any other guards in the class of 2025 who combine Peterson's power, athleticism and overall skill level," 247Sports wrote after the Adidas 3SSB event in mid-April. "At times he operated as a true point guard who got paint touches and made plays for others. For other stretches, he took over scoring and got to any spot he wanted on the floor. Sometimes, he mixed a little of both. Bottom line he did whatever he wanted. His jumper can still be a little streaky, but it's not exactly a worry moving forward."
Posted on 4/30/24 at 4:03 pm to RazorHawg
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AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 recruit in the country, has had quite the shakeup in his recruitment this spring due to the wild coaching carousel we have all witnessed.
It started with Andy Enfield, who got Dybantsa on his first official visit to USC, taking the SMU job which led Eric Musselman to USC and John Calipari to Arkansas.
With the major shakeup, Dybantsa talked about where things stood now: is the new Kentucky staff getting involved? Is Calipari continuing his recruitment of Dybantsa at Arkansas? What about USC? Any new visits? And much more.
According to Dybantsa, he confirmed that Calipari has already offered him at Arkansas and is under the impression that Kentucky has been in contact with his father.
He shared his thoughts on each move and where things stand as of this weekend:
Arkansas: "I got an offer about a week ago, not even. Cal reached out, Chin [Coleman] reached out and I got an offer. He said same 'brand, different location.' He said they're going to keep coaching the same way, keep doing things the same way but it's just a different location."
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Moving forward, Dybantsa says he doesn't know who will get his remaining visits but does have a plan as to how he will structure his next steps.
"I have only taken two [visits] but in the fall, September, October and November, when football season is coming, I will take more visits," he said.
"I have no clue," he added on a timeframe for a decision. "I will probably take four to five more visits and narrow it down from there."
Dybantsa is one of the top prospects and players we have seen come through grassroots in the last five years.
He reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025 and even after the move he remains the No. 1 recruit in the rising senior class.
He is a highly coveted recruit and although he experienced a shakeup due to the coaching carousel, his recruitment will really come into form as the live periods commence in May.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 4:06 pm to RazorHawg
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TOTAL DOMINANCE: Cameron Boozer
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The No. 2 prospect in the 2025 Rivals150 was asked to do a lot for his Nightrydas Elite team over the weekend, and the 6-foot-9 forward answered the call. Playing in the event’s first game on Friday night, Boozer went for an eye-popping 31 points and 16 rebounds in a win.
The contest managed to showcase the forward’s developing passing skills as well as his physical prowess. Boozer shot 50 percent from the floor in the contest and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. That brand of performance is becoming typical for Boozer, who remains in the conversation for the No. 1 spot in the Rivals150.
Recruitment: Boozer is considered a Duke lean but also seems serious about Miami. He says he plans to take one more visit this spring but declines to say where the destination may be. That said, Arkansas’ John Calipari, who recruited Boozer heavily at Kentucky, recently reached out, so Fayetteville seems like a logical guess.
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DO IT ALL: Maleek Thomas
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Everyone loves a long, hyper-athletic point guard and Thomas is just that. He possesses the length, athleticism and passing ability to impact games even when he isn’t posting gaudy point totals, so when he’s scoring at will as he was on Saturday afternoon, he becomes one of the most dynamic prospects in the class.
Thomas racked up 20 points and nine rebounds, and a number of crafty assists in his New Heights Lightning team’s win over the NY Rens on Saturday. He displayed a type of vocal leadership that’s rare in such young prospects, constantly motivating and coaching his teammates. Watching Thomas operate is an absolute joy on most occasions, as he’s as spirited and confident as he is effective.
Recruitment: Thomas is seriously considering programs such as Auburn, Pitt, Arkansas, Penn State, UConn and Indiana.
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IMPROVED EFFICIENCY: Darius Acuff
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Efficiency isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind while watching the volume-scouring Acuff, but a Saturday afternoon game saw the five-star shoot roughly 80 percent from the floor en route to an 18-point performance for The Family against Team CP3. Everyone has long known that Acuff is a true three-level scorer capable of posting gaudy point totals and taking over games, but his battle has been with shot selection.
On Friday, he showed some poise and discretion while still making a massive impact in the scoring column through pull-up jumpers and crafty finishes at the rack, which was encouraging for a prospect that can be reckless when it comes to chucking shots at times. Acuff is one of the most explosive scorers in the 2025 class and could improve his stock even more if he continues to play within the offense and take smart shots as he did Saturday.
Recruitment: Michigan, Kansas and Arkansas feel like the three main players to land Acuff. He recently visited the Jayhawks, has been in close contact with the new Wolverines staff and plans to take an official visit to Arkansas on May 10.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 5:08 pm to RazorHawg
Posted on 4/30/24 at 5:16 pm to hawgfaninc
Hard day for Hog fans?
We missed on a bench player.
We missed on a bench player.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 8:58 pm to beebefootballfan
1.3 or 1.85 mill for johnell davis
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:05 pm to hawgfaninc
Johnny Chicken just locked down a commitment from Walmarks to increase their chicken wing orders by 5 mil a week.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:08 pm to beebefootballfan
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:11 pm to hawgfaninc
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:13 pm to hawgfaninc
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BREAKING: FAU transfer Johnell Davis visited Arkansas this past weekend and is expected to sign with John Calipari and the Razorbacks, source told @TheFieldOf68.
He has declared for the NBA Draft and his preference is to go pro, but Arkansas offered him a lucrative NIL deal north of $1 million, per source.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:27 pm to UltimateHog
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:33 pm to hawgfaninc
Shot 50% on corner threes. 
Posted on 4/30/24 at 9:41 pm to RazorHawg
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The top-rated player in the transfer portal is going to be a Razorback. Former Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis, the No. 1 transfer player in the country, has committed to playing for the Razorbacks next season. The news comes after Davis completed a visit to Fayetteville this past weekend, sources confirmed to HawgSports on Tuesday morning.
The 6-4, 203-pound guard averaged career highs with 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this past season. Davis shot 48.3% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range. Davis played a huge role in helping Florida Atlantic reach the Final Four in 2023, and he is a proven veteran guard who brings over 120 games of experience.
With the commitment of Davis, the Razorbacks are now up to six scholarship players for the 2024-25 season and have just seven roster spots needed to fill. He joins a roster that already includes center Zvonimir Ivisic, guard Karter Knox, guard Boogie Fland, forward Billy Richmond and center Jonas Aidoo.
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FLORIDA ATLANTIC BIO
Fourth-Year Junior (2023-24)
Named AAC Preseason Player of the Year
Named AAC First-team All-Conference
Scored his 1000th point in the victory over No. 4 Arizona
Third-Year Sophomore (2022-23)
Was a key component of Florida Atlantic's Final Four run, 35-4 record and best season in school history
Took home C-USA Sixth Player of the Year, All-C-USA First Team and NABC All-District 17 First Team honors for his superb season
Led FAU in scoring with an average of 13.8 points per game
Ranked second on the team in rebounding with an average of 5.4 boards per game
A scoring machine, Davis tallied double figures in 26 games, 20+ points in four games and 36 points in the home win over UAB
His 36 against the Blazers are the fourth-most in a single game in FAU history and only three shy of the Owl record
Had a historic game in the NCAA Second Round win over FDU, becoming the first player to score 25+ points, grab 10+rebounds, dish out 5+ assists and tally 5+ steals in an NCAA Tournament game since steals became an official stat in 1986
Averaged 16.6 points on 53.3% shooting in the Owls' three-game run to the C-USA Tournament championship, and was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team
His 509 points are the most by a sophomore in FAU history and the 10th-most in a single season in Owl history
Davis' 56 steals are the eighth-most in a single season in Owl history
Recorded three double-doubles on the season
Ranked third on the team in field goal percentage (48.6%)
Led the team in free throw percentage (85.5%)
Second-Year Freshman (2021-22)
One of four Owls to play in all 34 games, while starting in three
Averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game across 19.0 minutes per game
Logged 37 steals, the third most on the team
Put up nine points and three rebounds in the win versus North Dakota
Tallied six points, eight boards and four steals versus Palm Beach Atlantic
Delivered nine points, five boards and three steals at Marshall
Registered 10 points and five rebounds in the Owls' home contest against Marshall
Had a breakout performance at UTSA after scoring 15 points and adding six rebounds and two steals
Scored 11 points against Middle Tennessee at home
Recorded nine points, five rebounds and four steals at FIU
Pulled down seven boards and added eight points in the C-USA Championship second round game versus Southern Miss
Contributed 12 points off-of-7 shooting against UAB in the C-USA Championship semifinals
Ended the season on a positive note at the Roman CBI, earning a career-high 18 points (7-of-13 from the field) with five boards against Northern Colorado
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Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis committed to Arkansas and new coach John Calipari, according to Jeff Goodman.
The shooting guard spent four seasons with the Owls and steadily improved every year. Last year, Davis set career highs in 34 games.
Davis finished the season with 18.2 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, shot 48.3% from the floor and 41.4% from three-point range.
Playing for Florida Atlantic, Davis rose to stardom helping the Owls make the Final Four during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He was also Conference USA’s 6th Player of the Year.
As a member of the Class of 2020, Davis was not ranked, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He played his HS basketball in Gary (Ind.) 21st Century Charter.
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Head coach John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks have reportedly landed another transfer portal splash, as Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis is expected to commit and sign with the Hogs according to a report from Jeff Goodman on Tuesday.
A 6-foot-4, 203-pound soon-to-be senior, Davis was one of the most electric players in the country during the 2023-24 season for the Owls. He averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arch and 85.7% from the charity stripe.
According to Goodman, Davis' "preference is to go pro, but Arkansas offered him a lucrative NIL deal."
Davis scored a season-high 35 points against then-No. 4 Arizona and added nine boards and three assists against the Wildcats. He had 14 games with at least 20 points and crossed the 30-point threshold on three separate occasions.
Originally from Gary, Indiana, Davis first stepped foot into the national spotlight during his 2022-23 campaign. That season, he averaged 13.8 points per game and helped carry Florida Atlantic to the Final Four with four straight double-digit performances in the NCAA Tournament against Memphis (12 points), Fairleigh Dickinson (29 points, 12 rebounds), Tennessee (15 points) and Kansas State (13 points, eight rebounds, six assists).
According to KenPom, Davis finished his 2023-24 season with a 114.0 offensive rating, a 54.9 effective field goal percentage, a 59.9 true shooting percentage and a 17.6 assist rate.
Following Davis' expected addition, Arkansas now sits with six scholarship players on its roster.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:04 pm to hawgfaninc
About as good of a player as you could conceivably pick up for one year. This year’s equivalent of Hunter Dickinson.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:14 pm to hawgfaninc
I refused to get my hopes up on Johnell. So stoked to see him as a Razorback!
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:16 pm to Jon Ham
We are putting together a solid roster. Boner alert.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:20 pm to Billy Blanks
Let’s get Norchad now
Burks probably commits tomorrow
Burks probably commits tomorrow
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:22 pm to hawgfaninc
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Let’s get Norchad now
He dated a girl who lived in NWA for a bit, familiar with the area.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 11:00 pm to Billy Blanks
The girl or norchad?
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