Coach Calipari is one of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball at getting players to the NBA. He has seen 47 of his players drafted to the NBA, with 35 of them being first-round picks. This year, he will hear a couple more names called on draft night after his first season as the Arkansas head coach.
While many players on the Arkansas roster have previously had their names mentioned as draft prospects, I am only going to discuss the players that have garnered draft buzz in this year's draft. This leaves out D.J. Wagner and Trevon Brazile. I am going through a handful of NBA Draft Big Boards to compare where each Arkansas player is listed among them. Below are the four sites used to do so.
- Behind the Arc - Top 40 listed
- No Ceilings - Top 60 listed
- Sam Vecenie - The Athletic - Top 100 listed (Freshmen are not listed past 50)
- Jonathan Givony - ESPN - Top 100 listed
Boogie Fland
Boogie Fland had an incredible freshman season before his injury. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His ability to score anywhere on the court and take over games was outstanding as an 18-year-old. His 5.7 assists ranked first in the SEC and second in the nation among freshmen. He isn't an explosive athlete, but his quick first step allows him to get past the first defender and into driving lanes, which open up opportunities for him to get to the basket or find an open teammate.
Before his injury, his draft stock was mid-to-late first round. Since then, he has fallen out of the first round for the majority of draft analysts. The biggest reasons are his size and finishing around the rim. His size will limit him on defense at the next level, as teams like defensive versatility in the modern NBA. However, his pesky defense and active hands shouldn't go unnoticed. Finishing at the rim at a high rate is critical for small guards in the NBA, and Fland only shot 36% on those attempts. At only 18 years old, he has a lot of time to grow and develop his game and he has the tools to be a very successful NBA player.
- Behind the Arc's Ranking: 22nd
- No Ceilings' Ranking: 34th
- Sam Vecenie - The Athletic's Ranking: 43rd
- Jonathan Givony - ESPN's Ranking: 37th
Adou Thiero
In his third year under Coach Calipari, Adou Thiero was given a bigger role, leading to a breakout season for the Hogs. He has been outstanding on defense, guarding the opponent's best player and being disruptive on a nightly basis. His frame and physical abilities make him versatile on defense, with the ability to guard multiple positions, a trait NBA teams covet.
The knock on Thiero is his three-point shooting and decision-making when running the offense. His offensive role at the next level will be cutting and driving to the basket while he tries to improve his shot. Thiero is projected to be a late first or early second-round pick. If he improves his shot, his value will go up tremendously.
- Behind the Arc's Ranking: 26th
- No Ceilings' Ranking: 30th
- Sam Vecenie - The Athletic's Ranking: 34th
Zvonimir Ivisic
Zvonimir Ivisic has a rare skill set of spacing the floor and being a rim protector. At 7'-2", he has been labeled as the best shooter on the Razorbacks and is one of the best stretch-bigs in the nation. He is shooting 38.5% from three on 4.1 attempts per game. In his first 24 games, Ivisic shot 45% from three before getting into a shooting slump. He has shown solid footwork and a nice touch around the basket. He is also one of the best shot blockers in the nation, averaging 2.1 blocks in only 20.6 minutes per game.
There are questions on how his defense translates to the NBA. He's a great shot-blocker, but his on-ball/post defense is an area of concern. Ivisic is not projected to get drafted and should look to return to Arkansas for another year to continue his development. If he does enter the draft, he will get a lot of interest as an undrafted free agent.
- Sam Vecenie - The Athletic's Ranking: 92nd
- Jonathan Givony - ESPN's Ranking: 62nd
Karter Knox
After a slow start to the season, Karter Knox has developed his game throughout the season and has become a great role player for Arkansas. At this stage of his career, he is a 3-and-D wing who has shown flashes of becoming a high-level player at the collegiate level.
Knox is not projected to be drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft but is a prime candidate to return to school next season to continue his development and take on a bigger role for the Hogs. If he continues his progression at the same trajectory he has shown this season, he will be a sure-fire first-round pick, with the potential to be selected in the lottery.