Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari rarely falls short when it comes to player recruitment out of high school, internationally and from the transfer portal. Just this offseason, Calipari has already secured the commitments of the No. 3-ranked player in the high school Class of 2026, Jordan Smith Jr., and Georgia Bulldogs standout Jeremiah Wilkinson, to name a few.
Another name is reportedly joining coach Calipari’s recruitment class this offseason: Russian center Ilia Frolov. The 6-foot-11 prospect committed to Calipari’s Razorbacks on Thursday. The news, per college basketball insider Joe Tipton, comes after Frolov recently played for Real Madrid in the Spanish under-22 junior league, Liga U. Frolov now aims to fortify Calipari’s frontcourt.
Frolov is expected to join the Razorbacks in the 2027-28 campaign as he is currently ironing out the necessary paperwork to clear him to play college basketball. His commitment likely stems from his official Razorbacks campus visit recently. There is still a possibility that Frolov joins the team later this year, but it would depend on the paperwork.
Ilia Frolov feels great about committing to coach John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks
It’s no secret that John Calipari is a players’ coach. Along with his reputation of producing NBA-ready guards such as two-time regular season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Calipari has also produced great big men. These include 2026 NBA champion Karl Anthony-Towns and former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. In a report by CBB insider Paul Biancardi, Ilia Frolov acknowledged how excited he is to learn from Calipari, given his history.
“It was an amazing visit. Coach Calipari and the staff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Coach Cal can teach me a lot about the game, and I will do whatever it takes to help him win,” Frolov said.
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