Razorbacks Recruiting: With Acuff on board, Calipari looking to add more 2025 5-stars to Arkansas visit and commitment lists

By Kevin McPherson

LITTLE ROCK — Now that Arkansas has jumped ahead of the pack in terms of picking up the first top-10-ranked 5-star commitment in what looks to be a historically rich national class of 2025, iconic Razorbacks head coach John Calipari is looking to pile on with more 5-star pledges moving forward.

Talented senior Darius Acuff, Jr. (6-3 guard, Detroit native, IMG Academy, 247Sports national No. 4 / 5-star prospect) got the blue-chip party started by committing to Calipari and the Hoop Hogs on Friday (details are included in my linked Acuff commitment article published at Hogville on Friday: https://forums.hogville.net/index.php?topic=767963.0).

Another Top 5-ranked 5-star prospect in 2025, Caleb Wilson (6-9 combo forward, Atlanta, composite national No. 4 / 5-star prospect), recently said he plans to visit Arkansas in the fall and has been talking with Acuff about playing together in college.

“Yeah, Darius Acuff,” Wilson answered during a July 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.”

Wilson told Hogville that in addition to setting up a visit to Fayetteville he plans to visit Duke, Tennessee, Oregon, and Georgia Tech.

“I’m definitely going to take a visit to Arkansas. 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.”

Wilson described his biggest attraction to Arkansas when considering Fayetteville as a college destination.

“Coach Cal’s propensity to make pros,” Wilson said. “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.”

Prior to starring on 17U Nightrydas Elite’s run to the Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship in July, Wilson said he worked out with a couple of future Naismith Hall of Famers.

“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.”

That hard work paid off as Wilson was arguably the best two-way player at Peach Jam as he averaged 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 60.6% from the field.

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

Hogville’s current take on Wilson’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Hot.

Although Calipari has been on record multiple times in recent months proclaiming a new philosophy of limiting his annual high school classes to three or four players, the 2025 class may prove to be too good for him to stick to that new line of thinking. The list of other 2025 5-star prizes who have legitimate interest in Arkansas includes …

- AJ Dybantsa (6-9 combo forward, Utah Prep, composite national No. 1 / 5-star prospect) appears to be on a track to carry his recruitment through the spring of 2025, and Arkansas is among several schools Dybantsa has interested in visiting. “I spoke to him (Calipari) … obviously trying to set up a visit … I’m thinking about it … early in the fall if I can take it,” Dybantsa told Hogville in late May. Dybantsa (23.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals per game leading 17U Oakland Soldiers team to Nike EYBL Peach Jam title game) is reportedly focused on Arkansas, BYU, Auburn, USC, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Hogville’s current take on AJ Dybantsa’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Warm.

- Cameron Boozer (6-9 forward, Columbus High School in Miami, composite national No. 2 / 5-star prospect) spoke to Hogville in late May about his Arkansas recruitment: “Coach Cal’s reached out a couple of times, so I have a good relationship with him.” Boozer also said his interest level in Arkansas compared to other schools recruiting him was “the same.” Boozer (20.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 57.4% field goals while leading his 17U Nightrydas Elite squad to the Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship) has named Arkansas among the handful of colleges recruiting him the hardest. His father Carlos Boozer starred at Duke. Hogville’s current take on Cameron Boozer’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Cold to Warm.

- Koa Peat (6-8 forward, Gilbert, Ariz., composite national No. 5 / 5-star prospect) has Arkansas among his top 9 schools, a list that includes North Carolina, Duke, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Texas, Baylor, and Houston. “I’ve definitely got to consider (Arkansas),” Peat told Hogville in late May. “Coach Cal has recruited me since my sophomore year. When he got the job, he called me like a week later and was telling me he wanted me to come there and play for him. He told me he wants me to come on a visit also … I’ll try to schedule a visit for the fall.” Peat (23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals for 17U Compton Magic during Adidas 3SSB summer championships) may carry his recruiting process through the spring before making a decision. Hogville’s current take on Koa Peat’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Warm to Hot.

- Meleek Thomas (6-4 guard, Pittsburgh native, Overtime Elite, composite national No. 6 / 5-star prospect) took a visit to UConn in late June and had one scheduled to Arkansas a few days later before postponing it, but a source recently told Hogville that Thomas is considering dates in September and October to visit Arkansas among other likely school visits. “I like Arkansas as one of my top schools,” Thomas told Hogville in late May. “I ride with Coach Cal, so he moved over there and his staff went over with him. I don’t know how much I’ll look into it, but I ride with Coach Cal so I’m going to go check it out and take my visit … ” In addition to UConn, Thomas (20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game for 17U New Heights Lightning during Nike EYBL session play in the spring) has already visited Auburn and Pittsburgh and has interest in visiting Kansas, Kansas State, and Alabama. Hogville’s current take on Meleek Thomas’ interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Warm.

- Jasper Johnson (6-4 guard, Overtime Elite, composite national No. 10 / 5-star prospect) recently named his Top 5 schools: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, and Alabama). Johnson is a Kentucky native and has been recruited by Calipari for some time, and he’s openly discussed the possibility of visiting Arkansas prior to making a decision on where he’ll play collegiately. Johnson (20.0 points per game for 17U Team Thad during Nike Peach Jam) is reportedly no lock to play for one of his home-state schools and may even be leaning toward playing out of state. Hogville’s current take on Jasper Johnson’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Warm.

- Nate Ament (6-9 forward, Warrenton, Va., composite national No. 13 / 5-star prospect) was a versatile inside-out force for 17U Team Loaded VA during spring and summer Adidas 3SSB circuit events, and Calipari plus other Hog assistants were courtside for a number of his games spanning May to July. Ament recent named Arkansas among 10 schools he’s interested in, and he’s another prospect who seems to be in the early stages of sorting through the recruiting process. “I’m big into Arkansas for sure, big into Coach Cal,” Ament told Hogville in late May. “I love the way he runs his offense, defense, love the way he runs his program. He’s a great guy, he has a great staff there, so I’m big on Arkansas. I’ve continued talking to Coach Chin (Coleman, Hogs associate head coach) and a couple of their assistant coaches.” Hogville’s current take on Nate Ament’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Cold to Warm.

- Chris Cenac, Jr. (6-10 forward / center, Link Academy in Branson, Mo., 247Sports national No. 14 / 5-star prospect) picked up his Arkansas offer in mid-June, and that was followed by Calipari courtside watching him play in July during NextPro 16 / Puma events. Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Cal, Syracuse, and Rutgers are among the schools in the mix for Cenac. A recruiting rankings chart-climber in the spring, Cenac was the MVP of the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in June when Calipari got to watch him compete. Hogville’s current take on Chris Cenac’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Cold to Warm.

– Cayden Boozer (6-4 guard, Columbus High School in Miami, composite national No. 19 / 5-star prospect) has named Arkansas among the handful of colleges recruiting him the hardest, a similar talking point to his twin brother Cameron Boozer. Cayden is arguably the best facilitating guard in the nation as he teamed up with his twin and Wilson in leading 17U Nightrydas Elite to the aforementioned Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship. Hogville’s current take on Cayden Boozer’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Cold to Warm.

- Isaiah Sealy (6-7 wing, Springdale, ESPN national No. 54 / 4-star prospect) may not be among the 5-star prospects being pursued by Arkansas, but he did report an Arkansas after speaking with Calipari during the middle of Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July. “Coach Cal called me and offered me,” Sealy told Hogville on July 15. “I was happy, especially being a hometown kid. Having to work for it again (he was offered by the previous Hogs staff) and getting it back was good. Coach talked about me coming in for a visit soon.” On Sunday, July 28, Sealy followed up with Hogville to add this: “Im going to visit SLU (St. Louis) September 14-16 and Ole  Miss either August 1st or 5th. I’m talking to Coach Morgan at Cal to visit soon and also talking to Coach Chin Coleman at Arkansas to visit.” Hogville’s current take on Isaiah Sealy’s interest level in Arkansas (on a scale of cold, warm, or hot): Warm to Hot.