Arkansas Razorbacks' two breakout freshmen shine in Bahamas debut

The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team began its exhibition schedule this weekend with a trip to the Bahamas, and in their first game against the Bahamas National Team, John Calipari's newcomers showed why Arkansas signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.

The Hogs cruised to a 106-59 victory behind 66 points in the paint, 42 fast-break points and 44 points from their bench. Razorback fan-favorite Billy Richmond III and consensus top-five recruit and national high school player of the year Jordan Smith Jr. were as impressive as expected, but they were far from the only players on the team who balled out.

Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews combine for 32 Points in Bahamas debut

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Arkansas Razorbacks are set to feature a host of talented new players on the court. That said, with 11 new faces on the team -- many of whom are top-50 recruits -- it's easy to forget just how loaded this recruiting class really is.

Abdou Toure (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) was ranked as the No. 6 small forward in the country by 247Sports, while JJ Andrews (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) was ranked one spot ahead. Their rankings were nearly identical in the 247Sports Composite, which feels appropriate after both players scored 16 points in their preseason debut for the Hogs.

To be fair, Abdou Toure's 16 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals were a bit more impressive statistically than JJ Andrews' 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. However, Andrews tied Billy Richmond III for the best plus-minus on the team at plus-38. Both looked every bit as talented as one would expect from a five-star recruit, and with their efficient shooting (7-for-11 for Toure, 7-for-13 for Andrews), they offered the complementary scoring and defensive activity that Smith Jr. needed while settling into the primary ball-handler role.

Together, Toure and Andrews scored 32 points on 14-of-24 shooting while adding 15 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. They also combined to shoot 2-of-4 from three-point range, offering an early sign that neither player will need to dominate the ball to make an impact.

Toure made the most of his time around the basket. Five of his 10 rebounds came on the offensive glass, while his four blocks helped Arkansas finish with 13 as a team. His ability to rebound and protect the rim should also allow Calipari to use him at multiple positions, which was especially valuable with Miikka Muurinen unavailable for the Bahamas opener.

Andrews wasn't quite as flashy as Toure, but he looked extremely comfortable defending on the perimeter and finishing through contact against older competition. His performance should be particularly exciting for Arkansas fans who remember his father, Shawn Andrews, who was a two-time All-American offensive lineman for the Hogs back in 2002 & 2003.

With Jeremiah Wilkinson and Miikka Muurinen likely out for the rest of the Hogs' trip to the Bahamas, Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews will get plenty of minutes to show Arkansas fans why they were two of the crown jewels in John Calipari's most recent recruiting class. And, if their first performance was any indication, there should be plenty of highlight plays to go around.

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