John Calipari desires to fill need with final roster spot

Arkansas currently has eight players on the roster for next season’s team in Fayetteville. With that foundation set, John Calipari thinks he can get specific about what the Razorbacks still need with their next additions.

Calipari spoke about the latest regarding the construction of his ‘Hogs with the media while at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin. For their next potential pickup, he noted that they’re looking for someone who can play a necessary role, regardless of what that could yet be, in their lineup

“Ninth? It depends on who it is,” said Calipari on Wednesday. “That’s what we’ll look for. Is it a shooter? A four-man that can shoot? Is it strong, physical? Is it a defensive guy?”

Arkansas is able to do that since they have enough players that can make up a full rotation. Johnell Davis (FAU) and Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) will both now officially be coming to play for the Razorbacks after withdrawing their names from the 2024 NBA Draft. They’ll come alongside a trio of former players for Calipari at Kentucky in DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero, and Zvonimir Ivisic. Those five make up the No. 37 portal class. Each of them rate within the Top-110 of On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players.

They will come in alongside three freshmen who decommitted from Kentucky to follow Calipari. Four four-stars in Boogie Fland (No. 18, No. 1 PG), Karter Knox (No. 22, No. 8 SF), and Billy Richmond (No. 26, No. 9 SF) make up the No. 2 class in the nation. That comes per On3’s 2024 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Still, it wouldn’t be ideal for Arkansas to enter the season with just eight players. Calipari says they could do so if they aren’t able to find a few other names. However, depth is a focus now in order to prepare for what could happen over the course of a year.

“Right now, I can breathe because we’ve got eight,” said Calipari. “I’m hoping there’ll be nine but what if there’s not?”

“Somebody said, ‘Well, what if you have injuries?'” Calipari added. “If the wrong guy gets injured on any team in this country, you’re done. I don’t care if you have eight guys, nine guys, 15, 16 guys if the wrong guy gets injured. So my thing is, if a couple guys gets injured, I’ll have six really happy players because they’ll play all the minutes.”

Arkansas has added some quality pieces this offseason heading into Calipari’s first season. From here, though, it now becomes about finding someone else, if not a few more, that’ll fit in well with the Razorbacks.