Hoop Hogs, highly coveted transfer portal prize Keyshawn Hall having strong mutual interest, AGAIN

By Kevin McPherson

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Razorbacks are once again showing strong interest in, and attracting it from, Keyshawn Hall, who was a star transfer at Central Florida as the Big 12 Conference’s leading scorer this past season.

Hall (6-7, 235, guard / wing / 3/4-combo) has been drawing a flood of high-major attention since entering the transfer portal during the first week of its official opening (beginning Monday, March 24), including from Arkansas’ coaching staff.

And that interest is mutual, which is a repeat of this time last year when Hall had Arkansas among his final four schools as he was transferring from George Mason. He landed at UCF, where this season he was a force in the loaded Big 12.

“I’m setting up a zoom meeting with Arkansas in the next day or two,” Hall told Hogville on Sunday. “I’ve been talking heavily with Chin (Coleman), the associate head coach, and Ronnie Brewer.”

Hall explained the Razorbacks’ appeal, both now and then.

“I like Coach (John) Calipari, like how he put the program together and pushed through the adversity that came up this season,” Hall said. “Love the atmosphere and the fanbase, especially when I watch the games. That’s what caught my eye when I was being recruited by Coach (Eric) Musselman (a year ago). The fans are there for the team till the end.”

Hall — he’s also declared for the 2025 NBA Draft to consider his professional options — recently had a zoom meeting with Kansas’ coaching staff, and he’s got another zoom meeting lined up with Kentucky on Monday.

“What’s going to stand out for me is winning, somewhere I can go to win and get to the NCAA Tournament, which I have not done yet, without limiting my role,” he said.

Hall told Hogville he does not have a specific timeline for making a decision.

A source told Hogville several days prior to the opening of the portal that Arkansas would be “heavily in the mix” for Hall once he entered the portal.

Hall was All Big 12 in 2024-25 as he averaged 18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while knocking down 35.4% efficiency on 3.8 three-point field goal attempts per outing, and 81.6% free throw shooting.

He scored 20 or more points 16 times in ’24-25, including 30 or more three times. His career-high 40 points (13-of-18 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3, and 10-of-10 free throws) to go with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal was notched in a 95-89 road win over Big 12 foe Arizona State on Jan. 14.

Hall began his collegiate career as a freshman at UNLV in ’22-23, transferred and played his sophomore season at George Mason in ’23-24, then transferred again and played last season at UCF.

Should Arkansas be able to eventually land a commitment from Hall, it would give Calipari and the Hogs a prized, veteran, and versatile scorer with rebounding chops to add to an impressive 2025 recruiting class that includes Karim Rtail (6-9 forward, international prospect from Lebanon who committed to Arkansas in March) as well as a top 5-ranked high school haul of 2025 national Top 5 / 5-star and McDonald’s All American Darius Acuff, Jr. (6-3 guard, Detroit native, IMG Academy, pledged to the Hogs in late July 2024 and signed in November 2024); 2025 national Top 10 / 5-star and McDonald’s All American Meleek Thomas (6-4 guard, Pittsburgh native, Overtime Elite, pledged to and signed with the Hogs in mid-November 2024); and national Top 70 / 4-star Isaiah Sealy (6-7 combo guard / wing, Springdale, pledged to and signed with the Hogs in mid-November 2024).

Hall is a tremendous slashing lefty whose size allows him to take on contact and finish deep in the paint and at the rim, he’s competent shooting from distance on good volume, and he’s a plus-rebounder from the wing. He drew 6.7 fouls on defenders per game in ’24-25, sending him to the foul line for 7.4 free throw attempts per contest.