Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari has added size and big-man skills to the team’s frontcourt and is looking forward to another brutal SEC season. Let’s take a look at the two transfers and how they can positively impact the Hawgs’ 2025 outlook.
John Calipari Adds Size to Arkansas With Two Transfers
Arkansas head coach John Calipari led the Razorbacks to a 22-14 season during his first year in Fayetteville, advancing to the Sweet 16.
Overall, the team looked solid but not spectacular. You knew the Hogs could compete with the top teams, but ultimately, you weren’t going to see them make a Final Four run.
BREAKING: South Carolina transfer PF Nick Pringle has signed with Arkansas, @PeteNakos_ reports🐗https://t.co/DPpwUanDsI pic.twitter.com/NBr29IGXqV
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) April 15, 2025
Say what you will, the roster played up to their abilities. Now, that doesn’t sound promising, but the team executed with a workmanlike effort. Even after a game where they couldn’t close out, Texas Tech remains as defiant as ever. The coach’s postgame quotes to the New York Post stand out.
“I told them how proud I was of them, and there’s nothing they could do to disappoint me,” Calipari said. “Yeah, there were plays I wish they had done differently or made, but these kids gave everything; even in this game, they gave everything they had to try to win the game.”
With not a hint of apology, Calipari stood his ground and didn’t waver in his assessment. That remains the true sign of a coach who possesses complete faith in his scheme. According to The College Basketball Report, the team added talent upfront in South Carolina forward Nick Pringle and Florida State big man Malique Ewen.
The program endured major losses this offseason. Forward Adou Thiero heads to the NBA draft. Thiero, the Razorbacks’ second-best scorer, takes 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per night.
Next, freshman point guard Boogie Fland carries his 13.5 points and 5.1 assists. In other words, your team’s best scorer and distributor walks away, leaving the team with a serious talent deficit.
Who is Nick Pringle?
The well-traveled power forward/center started his career at Wofford before spending two years at Alabama. From there, he moved on to South Carolina. Now, the 6’10”, 220-pound big makes his final voyage to Fayetteville in hopes of making a run to the championship.
Pringle is a traditional low-post player. None of the modern stretch-four plays apply to him. Pringle will sit with his back to the basket and use footwork to score with dunks, layups, and putbacks.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, he offers little to nothing regarding shot-blocking. The hope remains that a summer of intense work can turn him into a functional rim protector. Pringle will use his last year of eligibility under Calipari.
Who is Malique Ewin?
Much like Pringle, Ewin called a few places home. After initially committing and playing for a year at Mississippi, the Lilburn, Georgia, native took the route to Tallahassee, averaging 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Ewin is a traditional big man with a bit more upside.
He can put the ball on the floor and drive past opposing post players. Playing a ground-based style, Ewin will give the Razorbacks a player who can thrive in Calipari’s offense. Isaac Trotter, 247 Sports college basketball analyst, describes the newest Arkansas big.
“Malique Ewin is a rock-solid, high-major big man who will be productive when he gets touches. Ewin isn’t much of a jump-shooter, but he has a soft touch in the paint and can create when he draws a second defender,” Trotter said.
“Ewin had some pretty nifty drives that catch your attention. His face-up game can be a source of instant offense to get Arkansas out of the mud. Ewin is an OK rim protector but needs to be paired with a pogo-stick 4-man… like Trevon Brazile.”
Arkansas Basketball Transfer Portal: Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
John Calipari will always recruit well. From UMass to Kentucky, he’s shown the perennial potential to attract talent. Now, he’ll continue leading an Arkansas program with a deep historical background but went astray for a decade or two. With that in mind, you cannot count Calipari out.
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