From @JacksonCollier
Transfer portal season has been long and drawn-out for Arkansas fans. The Razorbacks coaching staff landed two transfer additions a week into the portal being open, but there has been little movement since. While the Razorbacks did add a froncourt piece in Cooper Bowser, they still need more size and interior presence. So where does Arkansas turn in the frontcourt now?
Arkansas did add a non-portal piece to the frontcourt recently. Four-star international big man Miikka Muurinen committed to Arkansas last week, adding to a loaded high school class for the Razorbacks. Muurinen is a tall stretch-four who will add depth to the big man portion of the roster, but there isn’t much outside of him.
At the time of writing this article, Arkansas just has Bowser, Muurinen, and redshirt freshman Paulo Semedo at the forward spots. Muurinen and Semedo have no college experience, one being an incoming freshman and the latter redshirting after reclassifying and enrolling last year. Bowser, on the other hand, is a veteran who had a productive season as a forward/center hybrid at Furman.
Head coach John Calipari made it clear the Razorbacks needed to add size and physicality, but they have not quite accomplished that goal. There are still pathways for them to do so, though. Here are some names Arkansas already has looked at, or might take a peak, in filling a final spot or two on the roster.
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[HEADING=1]Micah Handlogten, Florida – Center[/HEADING]
Arkansas had a Zoom interview with the Florida transfer a couple weeks ago. Currently, he has no eligibility remaining, though Handlogten is waiting for a decision on his waiver status. There is some optimism he could be granted another year of eligibility, which, if he is, then Arkansas would be positioned nicely for his services.
With the five-for-five rule not grandfathering players in, Handlogten’s only hope of playing next year is a waiver from the NCAA.
[HEADING=1]Malique Ewin, Arkansas – Center[/HEADING]
In a similar situation to Handlogten, Ewin needs a waiver to have any eligibility. Like Handlogten, he has formally submitted paperwork and is awaiting a ruling. While he did enter the transfer portal, there is a path for him to return to Arkansas if he gets another year.
Sources indicated to HawgBeat that the decision to enter the transfer portal was in Ewin’s best interest in case he was granted an additional year. Arkansas could not operate in the portal assuming Ewin would have another year, so would recruit as if he would not. That meant that there was no guaranteed spot for Ewin on next year’s team in Fayetteville. However, sources also indicated that there might be a path back if Arkansas did not have a full frontcourt.
If Ewin is granted an additional year and Arkansas is still without a starting center, things could get interesting with Ewin’s return.
[HEADING=1]Luigi Suigo, International – Center[/HEADING]
The Razorback staff has dipped its toes in international waters before, and could do so again. That might not be with Suigo, though.
A talented player with great size, there is some speculation that he could end up at Villanova or BYU – two of many teams still looking to add a quality big man. While that might be the trend for now, there is no guarantee as of yet that he ends up at either school.
[HEADING=1]Robert Miller III, LSU – Forward[/HEADING]
While portal bigs are slim pickings this time of the off-season, there are some under-the-radar options still available. One of those is Miller, who checks a lot of boxes, including familiarity. Calipari and Arkansas have faced off against Miller multiple times. The Tigers were 1-3 against the Razorbacks head-to-head, but transfer forward looked solid in two of those matchups.
Miller’s numbers won’t jump off the page, but there is the chance of a junior leap after playing in 63 games in his freshman and sophomore campaigns. For a team as guard-heavy as Arkansas, an athletic, physical five who can defend the rim and play a role might be just the kind of add that raises the floor of the team. There has been very little information regarding Miller’s recruitment since entering the transfer portal, though he is a name that has been floated amongst Arkansas circles.
[HEADING=1]Jordan Burks, UCF – Forward[/HEADING]
There was a great deal of speculation when Calipari took the Arkansas job that Burks would be one of the players to follow. However, he ultimately did not. Instead, he transferred to Georgetown, then again to UCF, and is now in the portal again.
Arkansas has been in contact with Burks, though a source indicated to HawgBeat that the Razorbacks are not seriously pursuing the stretch-four. That comes after signing the aforementioned Muurinen to fill a similar stretch-four role. Regardless, it is a name worth monitoring, though he likely will not end up in Fayetteville.
