NBA mock drafts still seeing plenty of value in John Calipari's players

Recruiting, development has four Razorbacks garnering mock draft attention for 2026, 2027

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari at practice at the Eddie Sutton Practice Center in Fayetteville, Ark. | Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sure, Arkansas coach John Calipari had his record streak of 17 consecutive NBA Drafts with at least one player selected in the first round snapped in 2025.

But he's not slowing down in regards to adding the kind of player talent to his college rosters that the NBA covets year-in, year-out.

His transition from an impressive 15-year run at Kentucky to taking over at Arkansas just over a year ago meant venturing into some uncertainty, even if Calipari downplayed that by famously saying he was "only moving the headquarters" from Lexington, Ky., to Fayetteville, Ark.

Part of that equation of unknowns was sending his next crop of players to the 2025 NBA Draft in June.

Midway through his first Arkansas team's 2024-25 season, he had two Razorbacks that were garnering various first-round draft projections: Freshman guard Boogie Fland and transfer junior forward Adou Thiero.

Those two led the team in nearly every meaningful statistical category, and both looked the part of being all league caliber.

But then injuries struck both. Fland first early into SEC play followed by Thiero late in league action.

It was enough to eventually cause Thiero's draft stock to slide into the early second round while Fland's fate was harsher, causing him to withdraw from the draft with a transfer to Florida is next move.

Thiero ended up being selected No. 36 overall in the draft, that's early second round and meant Calipari's first-round un of success was halted.

But his ongoing roster build at Arkansas for his second and third rosters already has NBA Draft analysts pointing to multiple Hogs as near-future draft picks.

We took at look at five notable mock draft providers to gauge draft stock for three current Arkansas player and one future Razorback.

Arkansas Razorbacks forward Karter Knox (11) shoots a three point basket over Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kerwin Walton (24) during the first half during a West Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Sophomore Karter Knox (6-6 wing)

• No. 12 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2026 according to NBADraft.net

• No. 18 overall prospect in 2026 according to Bleacher Report's Top 50 Draft Big Board

• No. 24 overall pick (late 1st round) in 2026 according to BOTH Tankathon and CBS Sports

• No. 32 overall pick (early 2nd round) in 2026 according to ESPN DraftExpress

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr., at a summer practice at the Eddie Sutton Practice Court in Fayetteville, Ark. | Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

Freshman Darius Acuff, Jr. (6-2 guard)

• No. 7 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2026 according to CBS Sports

• No. 11 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2026 according to Tankathon

• No. 11 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2027 according to NBADraft.net

• No. 12 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2026 according to ESPN Draft Express

• No. 24 overall pick (late 1st round) in 2027 according to Bleacher Report

• No. 29 overall prospect in 2026 according to Bleacher Report's Top 50 Draft Big Board

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Meleek Thomas during summer practices at the Eddie Sutton Practice Court in Fayetteville, Ark. | Andy Hodges-allHOGS Images

Freshman Meleek Thomas (6-5 guard)

• No. 25 overall pick (late 1st round) in 2026 according to NBADraft.net

• No. 25 overall pick (late 1st round) in 2027 according to Bleacher Report

• No. 32 overall prospect in 2026 according to Bleacher Report's Top 50 Draft Big Board

New Arkansas Razorback offer JJ Andrews from Little Rock Christian drives in the lane in the Class 4A state championship game in March at Hot Springs against the Farmington Cardinals. | Tommy Land-HighSchoolonSI.com

2026 5-star Arkansas commit JaShawn "JJ" Andrews (6-6 wing)

• No. 4 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2027 according to Bleacher Report

• No. 11 overall pick (early 1st round, draft lottery) in 2027 according to NBADraft.net