One of the main driving forces behind the Razorbacks roster rebuild, which began last month when John Calipari moved from Kentucky to Arkansas, was NIL funds, which were used to draw in players from all over the nation.
People were curious about how the move from Lexington to Fayettville would work out and whether money would need to be spent to ensure Arkansas’s competitiveness the following season. The joke is now on you if you believed that talent scout John Tyson and the Razorbacks were bluffing about how much money they were willing to spend. We are beginning to see a clearer picture of how the people inside the basketball building are faring financially during this transition.
In the largest pickup from the portal since coming to Arkansas, John Calipari secured Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis on Tuesday night. Sure, there’s an attraction to playing for Calipari, but there’s also value in a solid NIL package that comes with a commitment. Davis was ranked as the top prospect in the transfer portal after averaging 18.2 points per game for FAU, so you know he could demand a significant fee for his services.
It turns out, according to Jeff Goodman, that sum of money has reportedly been negotiated at more than $1 million, which may surprise some people. However, considering NIL these days and the significance of bringing in game-changing players through the transfer portal,
Based on what’s being assembled, it appears that Calipari is pursuing the storyline that players want to be a part of what the former Kentucky coach is doing in his next stage of life. The former Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo was already added by the Razorbacks, albeit at a hefty cost. After Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, Boogie Fland, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Calipari, this Arkansas team is beginning to take shape.
