Arkansas Basketball’s Projected Starters Revealed: Who Will Dominate the Court and Steal Minutes?
Building a college basketball roster is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces that seem to be missing until the last minute—and Arkansas’ latest roster definitely fits that bill . After what felt like an offseason marathon, Coach John Calipari’s squad now boasts 14 of 15 spots locked down, including some real late bloomers who have already started turning heads. We’re talking about Amere Brown, a dual-threat athlete who dazzled in both hoops and gridiron; Paulo Semedo, a top-50 recruit bringing Angolan flair and size; and Elmir Dzafic, a Bosnian big man with international professional seasoning. With the roster nearly buttoned up, I’ve had my eye on how the rotation might unfold—minute breakdowns, role assignments, and who really stands to rise or fall as the season heats up. And trust me, this depth chart isn’t just about who starts—it’s about how a versatile group juggles multiple hats on the court, adapting to matchups and moments. So, who’s grabbing the lion’s share of time, who’s battling for scraps, and who’s poised to become the X-factor? I’m eager to hear your take as we dive deeper into what Arkansas basketball’s next chapter could look like. LEARN MORE
C – Malique Ewin
I feel comfortable enough at least including freshman Isaiah Sealy because of his athleticism and shooting ability. Last season, that ninth spot was occupied by Zvonimir Ivisic, and he became used as a shooter and mismatch who played extended minutes when he hit shots. I see Sealy fitting a role in the same vain, though in the guard spot instead of the center spot.F – Paulo SemedoGiven what we know about the roster, how much talent there is, and how pieces were used last season, my best-guess at the rotation looks something like this:WILL SEE THE FLOOR:
G – Amere Brown
C – Malique Ewin
Roles:
Athleticism:
DEPTH PIECES:
Rotation:
Dzafic played professionally internationally, while Semedo was a top-50 recruit in the 2025 class. Brown was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and football, earning Division One scholarships for basketball, including from Bryant. Now with the roster full, we have a more complete look at what the rotation could look like, including minute allocations and different roles.F – Trevon Brazile
G – Isaiah SealyG – Darius AcuffObviously there was some overlap above, mainly because there are still questions marks in some spots and there is just so much talent on this roster. Not everyone can start. I think there are two certified and guaranteed starting spots at this point: Karter Knox and Malique Ewin. Outside of that, it should be a fun offseason for competition.G – Jaden KaruletwaG – Meleek ThomasG – DJ Wagner/Meleek ThomasRichmond and Thomas are going to fight for minutes. As deep as this team is at guard, someone is going to get the short end of the stick, or they’re going to have to split minutes. This is in large part due to the combination of Wagner and Acuff seeing the floor a ton. Right off the bat two things are clear: Knox and Wagner will play the bulk of the minutes next season. I have a difficult time envisioning a third-year Wagner not playing a lot, though because of the guard talent, his minutes might dip ever so slightly. Knox, if he plays to the level he did for the latter portion of the season, will be the go-to scorer for next year’s team.G – Billy RichmondAdvertisementG – Meleek ThomasNOT A SUBSCRIBER? SIGN UP TODAY FOR ACCESS TO ALL OF HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM CONTENT AND FEATURESSmall Ball:F – Nick PringleWho should play bigger roles, who should have fewer minutes? Let us know.F – Karter KnoxC – Malique Ewin/Nick PringlePringle will likely see a smaller role than he had on a worse South Carolina team, but the three primary bigs, he along with Brazile and Ewin, will have to coexist. For a majority of most games, two of those three will have to be on the floor at the same time, save for stretches where Knox moves to the hybrid forward spot for small-ball.
Minute Allocation:
F – Trevon Brazile
F – Trevon Brazile
F – Karter KnoxCORE GROUP:Size:F – Elmir Dzafic**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**G – Billy Richmond IIIShooting:
Specialist lineups:
F – Karter Knox
That’s where things get difficult. A safe assumption is that most of the minutes will get eaten by the first eight players, it’s just a matter of who gets what, which will vary based on matchups, performance, foul trouble, injuries, etc. G – Isaiah SealyG – Isaiah SealyAfter a long, drawn-out roster build in the offseason, Arkansas’ basketball roster seems to be finalized with 14 spots filled out of a possible 15. Three late-additions for head coach John Calipari bolstered the team’s depth by adding high school guard Amere Brown, high school forward Paulo Semedo, and Bosnian big man Elmir Dzafic.After a long, drawn-out roster build in the offseason, Arkansas’ basketball roster seems to be finalized with 14 spots filled out of a possible 15. Three late-additions for head coach John Calipari bolstered the team’s depth by adding high school guard Amere Brown, high school forward Paulo Semedo, and Bosnian big man Elmir Dzafic.After a long, drawn-out roster build in the offseason, Arkansas’ basketball roster seems to be finalized with 14 spots filled out of a possible 15. Three late-additions for head coach John Calipari bolstered the team’s depth by adding high school guard Amere Brown, high school forward Paulo Semedo, and Bosnian big man Elmir Dzafic.Player role/archetype tableMinute Allocation
Defense:
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