Karter Knox, ranked as the No. 26 recruit in the 2024 ESPN 100, has committed to John Calipari’s Arkansas team after initially de-committing from Kentucky. Knox cited Calipari’s commitment to developing players for the pros and his strong relationship with assistant coach Kenny Payne as reasons for his decision.
With Payne, a former head coach at Louisville, joining Calipari’s staff as associate head coach, Knox sees an opportunity to grow under the mentorship of two coaches he admires. Known for his scoring prowess, Knox has showcased his skills in high school basketball leagues, including the Overtime Elite League and the Nike EYBL.
The decision marks a reunion between Knox and Calipari, who previously coached Knox’s brother, Kevin Knox before he entered the NBA draft as the No. 9 overall pick in 2018. Knox’s commitment to Arkansas comes amidst a trend of highly touted high school seniors opting to follow Calipari to Fayetteville after his departure from Kentucky. Notably, other recruits such as Jayden Quaintance and Boogie Fland are still deliberating their choices, potentially bolstering Arkansas’s roster further.
Calipari inherits a roster at Arkansas that is essentially starting from scratch, with all 13 scholarship players from the previous season either graduating, transferring, or declaring for the NBA draft. This turnover provides Calipari with a clean slate to build a team according to his vision. The addition of Knox, along with other potential recruits, signals a new era for Arkansas basketball under Calipari’s leadership.
The commitment of Zvonimir Ivisic, a freshman transfer from Kentucky, further strengthens Arkansas’s roster under Calipari’s guidance. As Calipari jokes about building the team from scratch during his introduction to the Razorback faithful, there’s an air of excitement and anticipation surrounding the program. With promising recruits like Knox and a fresh start for the team, Arkansas fans have reason to be optimistic about the future of Razorbacks basketball under Calipari’s tenure.
