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The Arkansas Razorbacks had a strong start to the 2026 NBA draft.
Head coach John Calipari was seen early and often in his red blazer on camera at a table situated just behind eventual number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa. Even when it wasn't about Arkansas, it was about Arkansas.
Shortly thereafter, supremely talented guard Darius Acuff Jr. was selected by the Sacramento Kings at pick seven, which galvanized Calipari and Razorbacks supporters given the amount of attention he received throughout the pre-draft process.
But things didn't quite go according to their ideal plan after that. Calipari and Razorbacks fans were waiting for fellow guard Meleek Thomas to come off the board during the first round, and that moment never arrived.
Many mock drafts, including USA TODAY's, had Thomas slotted in at the back end of the first round. A selection anywhere in the first 30 picks would've validated the talented freshman's decision to leave Arkansas to chase his NBA dreams in 2026.
However, Thomas' slide out of round one will leave a bad taste in the mouths of Arkansas fans, and did him no favors either.
From Thomas' perspective, he could've stayed in school for another year and commanded a hefty NIL package as a returning star. He also could've tested the NBA draft waters in 2027, where the class appears to be much weaker than the potentially historic 2026 crop of talent. His contract as a 2027 first rounder would've been much more favorable than what he's likely to garner as a second round pick.
From the Razorbacks point of view, Thomas would've returned to school with a little bit of seasoning alongside fellow swingman Billy Richmond III. The tandem could've helped bring 2026 top-five recruit Jordan Smith and 2026 top-15 recruit JaShawn Andrews along slowly, giving Calipari the luxury of entrusting the early part of the schedule to his young veterans.
Additionally, Thomas shot 41% from long range as a freshman, and his marksmanship would've forced opposing defenders to stay at home, leaving the lane open for talented playmakers to get to the rim.
This isn't the end of the story for Thomas, as many second round picks have gone on to find stardom in the NBA. But for coach Calipari and Arkansas, it's fair to wonder whether his decision cost the program a chance at a national title.
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Arkansas basketball among 2026 NBA draft's biggest losers
Continue reading...
Head coach John Calipari was seen early and often in his red blazer on camera at a table situated just behind eventual number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa. Even when it wasn't about Arkansas, it was about Arkansas.
Shortly thereafter, supremely talented guard Darius Acuff Jr. was selected by the Sacramento Kings at pick seven, which galvanized Calipari and Razorbacks supporters given the amount of attention he received throughout the pre-draft process.
But things didn't quite go according to their ideal plan after that. Calipari and Razorbacks fans were waiting for fellow guard Meleek Thomas to come off the board during the first round, and that moment never arrived.
Many mock drafts, including USA TODAY's, had Thomas slotted in at the back end of the first round. A selection anywhere in the first 30 picks would've validated the talented freshman's decision to leave Arkansas to chase his NBA dreams in 2026.
However, Thomas' slide out of round one will leave a bad taste in the mouths of Arkansas fans, and did him no favors either.
From Thomas' perspective, he could've stayed in school for another year and commanded a hefty NIL package as a returning star. He also could've tested the NBA draft waters in 2027, where the class appears to be much weaker than the potentially historic 2026 crop of talent. His contract as a 2027 first rounder would've been much more favorable than what he's likely to garner as a second round pick.
From the Razorbacks point of view, Thomas would've returned to school with a little bit of seasoning alongside fellow swingman Billy Richmond III. The tandem could've helped bring 2026 top-five recruit Jordan Smith and 2026 top-15 recruit JaShawn Andrews along slowly, giving Calipari the luxury of entrusting the early part of the schedule to his young veterans.
Additionally, Thomas shot 41% from long range as a freshman, and his marksmanship would've forced opposing defenders to stay at home, leaving the lane open for talented playmakers to get to the rim.
This isn't the end of the story for Thomas, as many second round picks have gone on to find stardom in the NBA. But for coach Calipari and Arkansas, it's fair to wonder whether his decision cost the program a chance at a national title.
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Arkansas basketball among 2026 NBA draft's biggest losers
Continue reading...
