The Arkansas men’s basketball team’s season ended Thursday, and coach John Calipari and his staff have turned their attention to the NCAA transfer portal.
The Razorbacks are looking to build on this season’s Sweet 16 appearance and have reportedly been in contact with high-level players looking for new homes.
Here are some players who Arkansas has reportedly contacted.
Jaron Pierre, Jacksonville State
Pierre is among the nation’s premier scorers, Pierre averaged the fourth-most points in the country at 21.6 points per game. A three-level scorer, he’s best at getting downhill and going to his right.
He led the Gamecocks to the NIT second round and has played for Wichita State and Southern Miss in the past. Pierre is entering his fifth year of college basketball.
Malique Ewin, Florida State
Ewin was the No. 1 junior college prospect in the country before heading to Florida State, where he averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting over 59% from the field.
He is an athletic big who moves like a guard in the low post.
Ewin announced a final five of Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi State, Virginia and Auburn on April 10.
Eddie Lampkin, Syracuse
The Syracuse big man, who would be entering his sixth year of college basketball, previously played for TCU and Colorado. The 6-11 big man averaged 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Orange this season.
He has heard from several other power-conference programs such as Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Southern Cal and more.
Because Lampkin has played in five collegiate seasons, he would require a waiver to be eligible for next season.
Ian Jackson, North Carolina
Calipari recruited Jackson, who was a 5-star prospect, out of high school before he went to North Carolina.
The dynamic guard averaged 11.9 points while shooting 45% from the field this season.
Jackson is reportedly visiting St. John’s.
Nick Pringle, South Carolina
A big man with a bevy of SEC experience, Pringle made the Final Four with Alabama last season and was a starter for the Gamecocks this year. He averaged 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Pringle scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds when South Carolina beat Arkansas on March 1.
Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston State
Another Natural State native, Wilkerson was a standout in Conference USA for the Bearkats. He was Sam Houston State’s most-used player this season and averaged 20.5 points and shot over 47% from the field and was at 44.5% from deep.
The Bearkats finished 13-19 this season.
Wilkerson has reportedly heard from several high-major suitors, including Kentucky, Alabama, Duke, Louisville and more.
On3 reported that Wilkerson will visit Indiana, Kentucky, Auburn and Ole Miss before making a decision.
Ryan Forrest, North Carolina A&T
Forrest, an Arkansas native, was a standout player for the Aggies this season. He averaged 19.1 points per game while shooting 39.9% from the field.
He scored a game-high 19 points when North Carolina A&T faced the Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on Dec. 21. Arkansas won 95-67.
Forrest was one of two players who took the vast majority of shots for the Aggies alongside fellow Natural State native and Fayetteville High School alumnus Landon Glasper.
North Carolina A&T finished the season 7-25.
Owen Freeman, Iowa*
Freeman was one of the premier big men in the portal, entering after the Hawkeyes moved on from coach Fran McCaffery. He averaged 16.7 points and shot 63% from the field.
He committed to Creighton on March 28.
Obi Agbim, Wyoming*
Agbim took 28% of the Cowboys’ shots in coach Sundance Wicks’ first season in Laramie and was one of the Mountain West’s premier players.
He averaged 17.6 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field and 43.7% from the three-point line. Agbim has a long list of suitors following the success he found in his first season of Division I play. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
He committed to Baylor on March 31.
Daylin Swain, Xavier*
Swain was an integral part of getting the Musketeers to the NCAA Tournament despite their injury issues throughout the season. He averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds this season while shooting 53% from the field.
On Tuesday, On3’s Joe Tipton reported that Swain was in the process of scheduling a visit to Arkansas. He is also visiting Texas and Kentucky.
He committed to Texas on April 1.
Morez Johnson, Illinois*
Johnson was an impactful freshman for the Fighting Illini this season, averaging 7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He shot 64% from the field.
He had 6 points and 4 rebounds when Illinois beat Arkansas on Thanksgiving and was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school.
Johnson has a final six of Arkansas, Ohio State, Kansas, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported April 1.
He committed to Michigan on April 1.
Malik Reneau, Indiana*
Reneau was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season and was a target in the portal for season several high-major programs. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds this season while shooting 55% from the field.
He committed to Miami on April 2.
Tyrone Riley, San Francisco*
Riley is coming off a productive freshman season in which he averaged 9.6 points and 6 rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the field. He would be a valuable wing addition after scoring in double figures in five of his final six games of the season.
He is in high demand, with several high-major programs showing interest. Indiana, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Michigan, Florida and others are among those reportedly interested in Riley’s services.
On Thursday, 247Sports reported that Arkansas was one of the schools Riley had “met with or conducted Zooms with” along with USC, Arizona, Creighton, Texas, Kentucky, Washington and Grand Canyon.
It was reported that he would return to San Francisco on April 6.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Alabama-Birmingham*
Lendeborg immediately became one of the top players in the portal when he entered Monday. He finished the season averaging 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds while shooting 52% from the field for the Blazers. He also announced that he was testing the NBA Draft waters.
In addition to Arkansas, Kentucky, BYU, Auburn, Michigan and several other high-major programs reportedly contacted Lendeborg in the first hours in which he was available.
He committed to Michigan on April 5.
Keyshawn Hall, UCF*
Hall was one of the go-to men for an up-and-down Knights team that was on the NCAA Tournament bubble until late in the season. He averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 rebounds in his junior season while shooting 42.7% from the field.
He reportedly has scheduled Zoom meetings with Kansas and Auburn.
The Portal Report said Hall will have a Zoom meeting with Arkansas and LSU on Tuesday.
He committed to Auburn on April 2.
Marquel Sutton, Omaha*
Sutton, the Summit League Player of the Year, was a key piece in the Mavericks’ first NCAA Tournament appearance. He averaged 18.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as Omaha swept the regular season and tournament titles before falling to St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament first round.
He has a long list of interested schools and reportedly visited Kansas State.
Sutton has one year of eligibility remaining.
He committed to LSU on April 6.
Abdi Bashir, Monmouth*
Bashir averaged 20.1 points per game this season, leading the Coastal Athletic Conference. His brother, Abdul Bashir, plays for Auburn.
Kentucky and Alabama are other SEC schools to have reportedly contacted Bashir.
He committed to Kansas State on April 7.
This story will be updated as more players are reportedly contacted.
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