John Calipari and Arkansas are preparing for a big season. After a Sweet 16 run in 2025-26, the team is looking to take the next step. It hasn’t had a blockbuster transfer portal, but it has added promising players who can grow under Calipari’s leadership.
On Monday, Arkansas secured the commitment of one of the most talented players available, five-star 7-foot Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen. He is ranked as a top-15 prospect in the 2026 class.
He chose Arkansas over Jon Scheyer’s Duke, Mike Woodson’s Indiana, Mark Pope’s Kentucky, Dusty May’s Michigan, Michael Malone’s North Carolina, Brad Underwood’s Illinois, Kevin Young’s BYU and Justin Gainey’s NC State.
“Since my visit a year and a half ago, they’ve been consistent and committed to recruiting me,” Muurinen told ESPN. “They’ve always shown interest. They’ve been very consistent, and they’ve gotten to know me as a person. That’s been very important to me.
“When I left my Arkansas visit, I was not only excited about the program but also about the people, and I said to myself, those are the type of people I want to be around on a daily basis.”
The news comes as a blow to Kentucky. The Wildcats have had a tough transfer portal and Muurinen is the latest player to reject Pope’s team. Collin Chandler was Pope’s first recruit, but he returned to BYU. Donnie Freeman chose Rick Pitino’s St. John’s, while Rob Wright III visited Kentucky but decided to return to BYU.
Chandler, Jasper Johnson and Jaland Lowe all entered the transfer portal. Brandon Garrison committed to Alabama, Andrija Jelavic joined Ohio State and Mouhamed Dioubate committed to LSU. Moreover, the Wildcats are still awaiting Tyran Stokes’ commitment announcement.
John Calipari and Arkansas’ Transfer Portal
Other than Miikka Muurinen, Arkansas has welcomed two more players: guard Cooper Bowser from Furman and guard Jeremiah Wilkinson from Georgia.
The team lost Malique Ewin, Jaden Karuletwa, Elmir Dzafic and Karim Rtail to the transfer portal, while Darius Acuff Jr. declared for the NBA draft. They have, however, retained Isaiah Sealy and Paulo Semedo.
Read more:
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