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Razorbacks Going All-In on Calipari Continues Showing Dividends

Latest recruiting rankings indicates exactly why Arkansas made commitment to get him from Kentucky
Andy Hodges|
Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari and point guard Boogie Fland talking on the sidelines during exhibition game with the Kansas Jayhawks at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari and point guard Boogie Fland talking on the sidelines during exhibition game with the Kansas Jayhawks at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. | Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

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Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas may be losing their star point guard but coach John Calipari may have his replacement headed to town.

Landing point guard Darius Acuff could be better. Especially if he can stay healthier longer than Boogie Fland, who suffered a hand injury requiring surgery.

As good as the Razorbacks played with him out the only way it could have been better was get to the Elite Eight and Final Four. That's a hypothetical not worth debating now.

With the final recruiting rankings from 247Sports released there were some surprises for Hogs' fans. Pleasant ones for a change, too.

This class ranked No. 5 overall and first in the SEC in high school recruits, led by the country's highest-rated point guard in Darius Acuff. He was the No. 5 player in the country.

In the player rankings, Acuff is the third-highest Arkansas recruit since they started keeping up with all this stuff. He's behind Nick Smith and Al Jefferson, both of whom didn't contribute much in Fayetteville.

Smith a couple of years ago played very little with a mysterious injury and bailed to the NBA. Jefferson committed to the Razorbacks, but chose the straight path to pro ball.

Acuff will be with Calipari for a year and that was probably the expectation when they recruited him. Hopefully he can avoid injuries and actually do big things on the floor for fans.

Fland quickly became a fan favorite and is in the transfer port, expected to go the NBA. With the signing of Acuff and Fland's backup, Karter Knox, finding out his draft prospects but keeping the door open with the Hogs, is expected to be back.

Along with some notable portal transfers coming in, Calipari is projecting a roster that's a little deeper this year. At times, due to injuries, the Razorbacks were down nearly alarm-type numbers at times. The biggest positive out of all that was nobody complaining about playing time.

With Trevin Brazile coming back (again) this may be the deepes, most experienced Arkansas team with talent we've seen in awhile. Adding immediate impact youngsters like Acuff just makes the prospects even brighter.

Ranking ahead of Arkansas final standings, in order, are Houston, Arizona, Duke and Notre Dame. Fans would probably be okay with that every year. It's why everyone is on the wagon and the basketball program starting to get back where fans have wanted for 30 years since they won the national title.

Acuff, Meleek Thomas, Isaiah Sealy and Kareem Rtail are all freshmen being added to the mix with three confirmed returners in Brazile, Billy Richmond and DJ Wagner. Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle are highly-rated transfers. If Knox comes back the roster will be deep and experienced.

The combination of Acuff and Thomas in the backcourt, though, seems to be what most national analysts are getting excited about. Both have had impressive outings in the high school All-Star games.

All of this is what Arkansas fans expected with Calipari. Now they just want to get past the Sweet 16.

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Andy Hodges
ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.

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