John Calipari may have given fans insight into slow transfer season with 'thank you' video

Anxiety is building for the Arkansas faithful. Every hour, one basketball transfer after another decides where they will play next season. And not one has chosen the Razorbacks. With one of the most lucrative budgets in college basketball, some fans have become impatient on social media.

However, on Wednesday night, head coach John Calipari posted a 'Thank you' message to Razorback fans for sticking with the team through the 'fire' as the Hall of Famer put it. But if you listen closely to the video, he gives a hint at what might be taking Arkansas so long to fill the roster.

John Calipari offers insight into slow transfer season

Again, Coach Cal starts the video by thanking the fans. "This is to all Arkansas fans, supporters, people that follow this program and our athletic department. I just want to thank you," said Calipari.

"You went through the fires with us. We were 0-5, and you still believed in us. You stood behind these kids. You let them know, the big games we had, that we needed our fans there with us. You were always there with us."

A little later, Calipari talks about the job his staff has done this year, including how they've managed building next year's roster. "I'm just grateful. Really happy with the staff, and what we've been able to lay out, and how we've been able to do it. You'll want retention. We got it. You'll want young people because I'm not changing who I am," Cal said.

Arkansas has been in the running for the class of 2025 prospect Nate Ament, who was supposed to announce his commitment at the McDonald's All-American game at the beginning of April. However, the talented needed more time to choose. It's not surprising with all the other elite recruits in his ear the whole week, including Arkansas commits Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas.

When Cal said, "You'll want young people because I'm not changing who I am," he said it with a little extra emphasis. Maybe I reading too much into it, but Calipari could be placing all his chips in the pot to get Ament. He's the fourth-best overall player in the class, according to 247Sports, so he's worth it, and it would make sense why no one has committed from the portal.

Cal doesn't want to scare Ament off with a transfer player. It's a gamble, but it's one that Coach Calipari would take in the situation. However, the longer Arkansas makes transfer players wait, the more time other schools have to recruit.

"I'm going to continue to recruit the best freshman in the country. They're going to have to come and perform, and they're going to have to take it maybe from some older guys, but I'm still going to prepare young people like we have."

Of course, Cal is very particular with who he takes out of the portal. Some big names floating around are Malique Ewin from Florida State, Nick Pringle from South Carolina, and North Carolina/former 5-star Ian Jackson. All of which fit the mold for Coach Calipari.

"And transfers coming in, they got to be great teammates. They got to add to what we're doing. They've got to want to get better. They got to want to be that next level. Help me as — I tell them — you're helping us. Let's make this about each other."

However, one key part of Calipari's video would make all this waiting around worth it. Despite losing Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland to the NBA draft, plus Zvonimir Ivisic to Illinois, no one else on the team with eligibility has made an announcement. Billy Richmond III, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, and DJ Wagner have all stayed quiet so far. When Cal said the staff had 'retention,' could that mean all four will stay?

Time will tell, but if they do, Arkansas will have three, maybe four highly touted prospects coming to the Hill, plus international newcomer Karim Rtail. Add two of three between Ewin, Pringle, and Jackson, and the Razorbacks will have a dangerous roster again for the 2025-26 season.