Calipari, Arkansas staffers hit road to see key top-shelf recruits in 2025, 2026 classes

By Kevin McPherson

LITTLE ROCK — The NCAA’s much-anticipated “recruiting period” opened on Wednesday, and first-year Arkansas head coach John Calipari along with his coaching staff wasted no time criss-crossing the country out of the gates to check on priority Hoop Hog targets in both the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes.

Several of the players Calipari went out to see first happen to be 5-star prospects who have scheduled upcoming visits to Arkansas.

With 2025 national Top 5 / 5-star prospect Darius Acuff, Jr. (6-3 guard, Detroit, IMG Academy) already on board with an Arkansas commitment, Calipari is laser-focused on the likes of 2025 national Top 5ish / 5-star ranked Koa Peat (6-8 combo forward, Perry High School, Gilbert, Ariz., his Arkansas visit is scheduled for Sept. 13-15); Meleek Thomas (6-4 guard, Pittsburgh, Overtime Elite, has Sept. 13-15 UA visit set but may switch to Oct. 4-6); and Caleb Wilson (6-9 combo forward, Atlanta, Holy Innoncents school, UA visit date set but not yet publicly announced) in addition to 2026 national Top 5 / 5-star Miikka Muurinen (6-11 stretch-4, Finland, Arizona Compass Prep, UA visit scheduled for Sept. 20-22) who is a “strong candidate” to re-classify to 2025 according to a source.

There are other 2025 and 2026 prospects the Arkansas staff will be checking in on during their travels as well.

Here at Hogville, we’re keeping a running tab on the who, what, when, and where of Calipari’s off-campus recruiting efforts …

Friday, August 30, 2024

* Source: Arkansas will be on hand at Arizona Compass Prep for Pro & Media Day in early Sept … among prospects participating will be 2026 first-year AZCP guard, 501 son, & Nat’l No. 25 / 4-star Jacob Lanier @IamJacob2026
…

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Monday, Sept. 2, 2024

* Reminder that Arkansas is planning to be on hand at Arizona Compass Prep for Pro & Media Day later this wk … 2026 first-year AZCP guard, 501 son, & Nat’l No. 25 / 4-star Jacob Lanier @IamJacob2026; ’25 stock-riser Marcus Jackson; & ’26 5-star Hog offer Miikka Muurinen (6-11 F)

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Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

* As I reported on Monday, Arkansas coaches will be at Arizona Compass Prep this week to see 2026 5-star Miikka Muurinen (6-11 F) among others, and apparently he’ll OV to Arkansas on wknd of Sept. 21-22 … I’m told he’s a “strong reclass candidate” which could mean move to c/o 2025

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Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

* Could be a BIG off-campus visit Wed in the ATL for John Calipari & Arkansas …

-Saw ’25 priority 5* Hog target Caleb Wilson (6-9 CF) in the a.m.

-On deck a stop @ Overtime Elite for priority 5* Hog target Meleek Thomas (6-4 G) & ’26 Nat’l Top 30 Hog target Tay Kinney (6-2 G)?

* This shoutout is regarding Arkansas HC John Calipari & Hogs asst coming in Wed morning to see ’25 priority Hog target & Nat’l No. 4 / 5-star Caleb Wilson @CalebWilson2025
(6-9 CF, Atlanta, Holy Innocents) during first day of NCAA’s “recruiting period” …

* College coaches expected to be in attendance for today’s action (@ Overtime Elite for Meleek Thomas) 👀

-Arkansas 
-SMU
-Clemson
-Pittsburgh
-Stanford
-Purdue
-Tennessee
-Mississippi State

* Told y’all I loved his swagger after covering him in person @ Nike EYBL in KC in May … U get a good glimpse of it in this reel … ’25 priority Arkansas target & Nat’l No. 6 / 5-star Meleek Thomas @ThomasMeleek (6-4 G, Pittsburgh), who hosted Cal on Wed & plans to visit UA soon

* ’25 priority Arkansas target & Nat’l No. 6 / 5* Meleek Thomas @ThomasMeleek (6-4) seen here flippin’ the switch during his 1st offical @OvertimeElite run … elite 2-guard w/chops & traits as a set-up combo guard … fearless w/swagger, plans UA visit soon

* While in ATL on Wed, Arkansas HC John Calipari & Hogs asst were at Grayson HS to see 2026 Nat’l No. 3 / 5* Caleb Holt @iamcalebholt (6-5 wing) … I was @ Adidas 3SSB in May in TX when Calipari was courtside to see Holt (Game Elite) play ’25 5* Hog target Koa Peat (Compton Magic)

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Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024

* “Coach Cal & one of his assistants will be at (Arizona Compass Prep) pro day today (Thurs)”

-Source regarding Arkansas HC John Calipari’s plans to see ’26 (considering reclass to ’25) Hog offer Miikka Muurinen (6-11 F, Finland, Nike E16 Peach Jam MVP) and ’26 Top 25 Jacob Lanier

* Told y’all he’d be out west in the desert today, & sure enuff there was Arkansas HC John Calipari (looks like associate HC Chin Coleman was there, too) @ AZ Compass Prep to check out ’26 Hog target & Nat’l No. 5 / 5* Miikka Muurinen & ’26 4* Jacob Lanier

Photo:
@griffgreenberg

* In addition to checking on highly regarded 2026 prospects Miikka Muurinen & Jacob Lanier on Thurs @ AZ Compass Prep Pro Day, Arkansas HC John Calipari & assoc HC Chin Coleman also able to see ’26 Nat’l Top 15 / 5-star Kaden House among others …

* Very likely another multi-task recruiting day for Arkansas HC John Calipari & assoc HC Chin Coleman while in Arizona; confirmed stop @ AZ Compass Prep for ’26s 5* Miikka Muurinen & 4* Jacob Lanier, AND mostly likely checkin’ on ’25 5* Koa Peat (6-8 CF, Perry HS, Gilbert, AZ), too