Hogs basketball, football teams busy with visits
The University of Arkansas basketball and football programs have entertained several prospects this week and are doing the same this weekend.
Men’s basketball Coach John Calipari signed a trio of former Kentucky commitments with all three wrapping up official visits this week.
Former Kentucky big man Zvonimir Ivisic, 7-2, 235 pounds, was the first to ink with the Hogs on April 17.
Arkansas announced the signings of small forward Billy Richmond, 6-5, 205 of Camden, N.J., and point guard Boogie Fland, 6-2, 175 of Bronx (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac on Friday then small forward Karter Knox, 6-6, 224 of Riverview (Fla.) Overtime Elite on Saturday.
Richmond is a consensus 4-star recruit, the No. 9 small forward and No. 25 overall prospect in the nation by On3. com industry ranking while Fland is a 5-star prospect by Rivals and ESPN. He’s the
No. 2 point guard and No. 15 recruit nationally, according to ESPN.
A consensus 4-star recruit, On3.com rates Knox the No. 6 small forward and the No. 19 overall prospect in the nation for the 2024 class.
Tennessee transfer forward Jonas Aidoo, 6-11, 240, was expected to arrive in Fayetteville on Saturday for an official visit.
On3.com’s Joe Tipton reported Baylor has hosted Aidoo on a visit while North Carolina and Ole Miss are other schools to watch for his services. On3. com rates him the No. 5 overall transfer in the portal.
He averaged 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season as a junior for the Volunteers while starting 36 games and earning Associated Press first-team All-SEC honors.
He started 9 of 35 games during the 2022-23 season, averaging 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game while blocking 44 shots.
Aidoo was rated a 4-star recruit by three recruiting series while Rivals listed him as a 5-star prospect, the No. 2 center and No. 25 overall recruit in the nation for the 2021 class as a senior at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, N.C.
Oklahoma State transfer center Brandon Garrison said he would arrive in Fayetteville on Sunday for an official visit.
Garrison, 6-11, 245, made an official visit to Texas last weekend and reportedly visited Oklahoma prior to the trip to Austin.
The former McDonald’s
All-American from Del City High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., visited the Razorbacks when he was recruited by former Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman.
He averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game as a freshman for the Cowboys in 2023-24. He started 29 of 32 games.
Texas Southern defensive tackle Elinus Noel III left Arkansas on Saturday morning after a two-day official visit and plans to announce a decision on Sunday after visiting Baylor.
“The visit was great,” he said. “Coaches showed me around and I had a great time. Definitely way more interested than before the visit. After the visit definitely piqued my interest. Like I told [Arkansas football Coach Sam Pittman], I will have an answer for him on Sunday.”
Noel, 6-2, 330 pounds, has offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas State, Maryland, Arizona State and Temple. He arrived in Fayetteville on Friday before leaving early Saturday morning.
Arkansas hasn’t added a defensive tackle from the NCAA transfer portal for the upcoming season and that’s a plus for Noel.
“That definitely appeals to be me having that opportunity to go out there and play in the SEC and dominate,” he said.
Transfer defensive tackle Jay’Viar Suggs arrived in Fayetteville around noon on Saturday for an official visit.
Suggs, 6-3, 283 pounds, entered the NCAA transfer portal April 21 after playing two seasons at Division II Grand Valley State University. He is expected to leave around noon today.
He has accumulated offers from Arkansas, Iowa, TCU, Nebraska, Kansas State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Kentucky, Purdue, Miami, Wisconsin, Tulane, Indiana and others.
He had 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble last year.
Suggs recorded 21 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 pass deflections and 2 quarterback hurries during the 2022 season.
He has two years of eligibility remaining.
The Hogs also hosted former Utah State defensive back Anthony Switzer, former Louisville linebacker Jaylin Alderman and former Louisville defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas for official visits on Wednesday and Thursday. Switzer extended his visit to Friday and committed to the Hogs that morning.
Alderman left to visit Miami while Thomas was expected to visit Colorado this weekend.