“FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The transfer portal has been bustling with activity, with student-athletes seeking new opportunities and coaches hunting for top talent. New Arkansas coach John Calipari has quietly but assertively made his presence known in the transfer market.
So far, the Razorbacks have secured one transfer, bringing in former Kentucky big man Zvonimir Ivisic. However, a new name has emerged as a surprise addition to the conversation. Arkansas is now poised to snag a top prospect, Johnell Davis, away from rivals like Kentucky and Houston.”
“According to 247sports national college basketball analyst Travis Branham, Arkansas is in prime position to secure the No. 1 overall transfer for the upcoming season. Branham is confident that the Razorbacks will land this highly sought-after talent.”
Quickly trending in the direction of Arkansas pulling away as the ultimate victor,” Branham said. “As of today, they are gaining all sorts of momentum heading into the weekend. Ultimately, that’s where I’m predicting he will land.”
Arkansas has been a great spot for transfers looking to make it to the NBA. Previous players like Justin Smith, Stanley Umude, Ricky Council IV and JD Notae have carved out roles at the professional level thanks to former coach Eric Musselman.
Calipari has also dabbled in the transfer portal a bit over the years at Kentucky. Success stories include Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves over the past two seasons. Reeves was a tremendous three-point shooter capable of getting hot and scoring in bunches.
His most successful transfer portal year was undoubtedly the 2021 season, when key players like point guard Sahvir Wheeler and center Oscar Tshiebwe joined the team, creating a potent combination. Additionally, Jacob Toppin, who spent three years with the Wildcats, became a valuable contributor. His standout performance came during the 2022-2023 season, where he nearly doubled his production, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds per game.
If Davis has another year of growth ahead, John Calipari is the coach who can extract every bit of potential for the benefit of the Arkansas team. Davis’s college career has been marked by significant improvement, including a notable shift from a mid-major program.
Davis was a catalyst for the meteoric rise of Florida Atlantic’s basketball program over the past two seasons. Back-to-back tournament appearances by the Owls along with a Final Four in 2023 will put all eyes on any program.
The 2024 American Athletic Conference player of the year averaged over 18 points, six rebounds and threes assists per game for the Owls this season. He shot a career high 41% beyond the arc and helped lead FAU to victories over Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Charleston and Arizona during the regular season.
The 6-foot-4 guard connected on 52% of his shot attempts at the rim which was nearly half his field goal attempts on the season. He invites physicality in the paint while also keeping his body balanced upright to finish.
Whether he is driving up court or running without the ball in his hands Davis is comfortable shooting either way. The 22-year-old finished in the top three percent of college basketball last season at catch-and-shoot situations with a 69% adjusted field goal rating.
This offseason is shaping up to be another memorable one for fans. Calipari has history of taking programs on international tours to gain chemistry and figure out exactly what he has. Days are winding down to the NBA Draft decision deadline. Arkansas may have to wait three more days but it may just work out better than expected, especially signing a transfer the caliber of Davis.
A commitment of such magnitude would put all eyes around college basketball on Fayetteville once again
