On the recruiting trail, John Calipari just keeps winning. The legendary basketball coach brought the No. 1 recruiting class to the Arkansas Razorbacks this year, and it doesn't seem like he's going to be slowing down anytime soon.
Now, Calipari and the Hogs are in the running for another major recruit from the 2027 cycle, potentially setting them up to earn the best class in the country for back-to-back years. Although the four-star guard is still a long way from committing to Fayetteville, Arkansas has several reasons to believe it will remain near the front of his recruitment.
Devin Cleveland names the Arkansas Razorbacks as a finalist
Earlier this week, top-30 recruit Devin Cleveland named the Arkansas Razorbacks as one of his final seven schools alongside Alabama, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri, Syracuse, and TCU.
The Chicago native, who attends La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, is one of the highest-ranking guards in the country. The Rivals Industry Ranking lists Cleveland as the No. 32 overall player and No. 6 shooting guard in the 2027 class, while 247Sports ranks him No. 30 nationally and No. 6 among point guards.
Cleveland averaged 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for La Lumiere last season, helping the Lakers finish 22-5 on the 2025-26 season. He was even more productive on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for Brad Beal Elite.
Devin Cleveland visited Fayetteville as a freshman, and Arkansas formally offered him a scholarship in August 2025. The young guard has been open about why Calipari's system appeals to him.
NEWS: 2027 Top-35 overall recruit Devin Cleveland is down to seven schools, he tells @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) July 30, 2026
The 6-3 shooting guard has scheduled his first official visit and discusses each of his finalists: https://t.co/GcljaeHFS6 pic.twitter.com/FkLotdmv1Q
“Coach Calipari lets his players hoop,” Cleveland told 247Sports after receiving his Arkansas offer.
Devin Cleveland is right; John Calipari has been known to let his guards hoop. From legendary college PGs like Derrick Rose and John Wall to modern ballers like Darius Acuff Jr. and Jordan Smith Jr., Calipari has consistently been a medium for the best ball handlers in the country.
It helps that Arkansas assistant Chin Coleman has a unique connection with Cleveland. Coleman is a fellow Chicago native who has known Cleveland's father for more than 30 years, and Cleveland has described the Arkansas assistant as being like an uncle to him. Tyler Ulis and Kenny Payne also have connections to Cleveland's family, giving the Hogs an unusual amount of familiarity with one of their biggest 2027 targets.
Still, Arkansas is a long way from signing the No. 6 point guard in the 2027 class. Cleveland has already visited Michigan and Marquette, while Missouri has hosted him for two visits and secured his first official visit for Oct. 3. The talented guard reportedly intends to visit all seven finalists before announcing his commitment around late December or early January.
If he can pair Cleveland with some of Arkansas' other highly touted 2027 targets, the Hogs could be preparing to do it all over again.
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