Razorbacks recruiting: Arkansas adds ’24 commit, ’25 5-star Hog target talks UA recruitment, ’25 in-stater looking to visit

By Kevin McPherson

LITTLE ROCK — John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks picked up a 13th public commitment announcement for his first Hoop Hogs roster as 2024 national Top 150 prospect Casmir Chavis pledged to the program on Wednesday.

Chavis (6-3 guard, Minneapolis, Minn., On3 national No. 133 / 3-star prospect) will be on athletic scholarship at Arkansas. He had originally signed with Washington, but after former Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins was terminated Chavis was released from his NLI in April when he reopened his recruitment.

“I chose Arkansas because the development players get is one of the best in the country, and it’s a very nice and supportive community,” Chavis told Hogville shortly after his commitment announcement. “You have some of the best coaches, and to get coached by them I couldn’t pass up on it.”

His recruitment had included varying levels from Georgia, Mississippi State, Memphis, West Virginia, Clemson, Arizona State, and Oregon State.

Chavis was a first-team all-state selection last season while leading Park Center High School to a 25-3 record as he averaged 23.5 points, 6.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per outing.

At minimum Chavis represents the 12th true scholarship addition to Arkansas for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign, joining Trevon Brazile, Nellie Davis, Jonas Aidoo, Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, Zvonimir Ivisic, Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, Melo Sanchez, and Jaden Karuletwa. It remains unclear if recent commit Ayden Kelley will take up the 13th and final scholarship on the roster or if he will be a walk-on. An additional roster candidate — Kentucky walk-on grad transfer Kareen Watkins — potentially could be in the mix as well.

Chavis is gifted as a slasher and in transition, both as a finisher and facilitator, and he adds depth to Arkansas’ combo-guard stable of expected rotation mainstays in Wagner, Fland, and Davis.

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Pair of 2025 5-star Hog targets discuss possibility of playing together in college: Based on Hogville’s source information in concert with several national recruiting analysts’ projections, indications are Arkansas is the leader to eventually land a commitment from 2025 5-star Darius Acuff, Jr. (6-3 guard, IMG Academy via Detroit, 247Sports national No. 4 / 5-star prospect), who took an official visit to Fayetteville on May 10 and had a final four of the Hogs, Kansas, Michigan, and UConn.

Another source told Hogville that Acuff’s commitment announcement is likely to come soon after the conclusion of the Nike Peach Jam event that runs July 13-21 (Acuff plays on 17U The Family on the Nike EYBL circuit).

Adding to the intrigue of Acuff’s Hoop Hogs recruitment is that another 2025 5-star Arkansas target, Caleb Wilson (6-9 combo forward, Atlanta, composite national No. 4 / 5-star prospect), has the Razorbacks in his Top 5 schools (his list includes Duke, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Oregon) and has discussed with Acuff the possibility of teaming up in college.

“Yeah, Darius Acuff,” Wilson answered during a Sunday interview with Hogville when asked about other prospects he’s been in contact with about possibly playing together at the high-major Division 1 level. “He’s probably going to Arkansas, he’s really favored to go there. Other than that, I haven’t really heard from anyone else.”

A source told Hogville in early May that Wilson would be highly interested in Arkansas and Calipari, and Wilson confirmed that to be true.

“I’m definitely going to take a visit to Arkansas,” Wilson said. “Haven’t picked a date yet, it’s going to be on a (Razorbacks) football weekend I believe. I took a visit to Kentucky when he (Calipari) was there, but when he first got the Arkansas job he came down to my school and gave me the offer. He said Arkansas has much more resources and things that are beneficial to players.”

What’s the biggest attraction to Arkansas when considering Fayetteville as your college destination?

“Coach Cal’s propensity to make pros,” Wilson answered. “He’s really good at pushing players to perform at their highest levels and hold players accountable. I like his offensive schemes and sets, and I like how they coach.”

Wilson is preparing to compete in the aforementioned Nike Peach Jam with his loaded 17U Nightrydas squad (includes the highly regarded Boozer twins and Hog targets, Cameron and Cayden).

“I worked out two or three times a day the whole month of June,” Wilson said. “I worked out with LeBron (James) and Anthony Davis.”

Asked to summarize himself a player, Wilson said: “Really versatile, can do everything that needs to be done, a matchup nightmare.”

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2025 4-star in-state prospect looking to potentially visit Arkansas in August: Rising senior Courtland Muldrew (6-3 combo guard, Oak Hill Academy in Virginia by way of Springdale, 247Sports national No. 100 / 4-star prospect) told Hogville on Sunday that he’s in discussions with Razorbacks assistant coach Chuck Martin, whom he spoke with earlier Sunday, regarding the possibility of taking a visit to Arkansas next month.

“Me and Coach Martin were talking about me visiting in August,” Muldrew said.

A source told Hogville that Arkansas’ coaching staff is “excited” about Muldrew as a prospect.

Our take here is if a visit indeed is consummated, it would set up the possibility of resulting in a committable scholarship offer.

Muldrew reported an Arkansas offer via his social media accounts on Sunday. A prolific scorer in the spring leading one of the best Nike EYBL teams — 17U Team Thad — Muldrew has been a fast stock-riser in national recruiting rankings. He already holds offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Creighton, Colorado, Arizona State, West Virginia, Washington, and SMU among others.