With legacy of dad and uncle, who played football for Razorbacks, Little Rock Christian player made decision on own.
John Calipari, Penny Hardaway, and culture shift with Razorback basketball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — John Calipari reclined into the studio chair, his voice steady but animated as he spoke to Penny Hardaway on the “Two Cents Podcast.”
It’s been a whirlwind summer for the Hall of Fame coach, who’s still getting used to the red and white of Arkansas after more than a decade at Kentucky.
Calipari didn’t sound like a man weighed down by legacy. Instead, he sounded like a coach on a mission.
“I wanna help about 25-30 more families,” he told Hardaway. “And if I get to a point where I can’t have an impact because of this environment or I can’t coach the way I coach, then I won’t do it anymore. I don’t need to do this anymore. But I love doing it. I’ve got a new challenge. I’ve got another place that I can do something unique for young people and still win.”
Calipari’s motivations have always run deeper than banners or rings. For him, coaching is about transforming lives—shaping teenagers into adults, turning high school stars into NBA-ready professionals, and, as he said, “impacting young people.”
At Kentucky, Calipari’s “Players First” philosophy became a rallying cry for blue-chip recruits and their families.
The numbers back up his claims with 15 conference titles, 59 NCAA Tournament wins, six Final Fours, and a national championship in 2012. Few coaches can match his record, but fewer still have made the NBA pipeline as central to their pitch as Calipari has.
But if “winning” is a byproduct of Calipari’s approach, trust is its foundation.
“I’m gonna tell the truth,” he told Hardaway. “The reality of it is, for all of us, if you don’t have trust, you really don’t have anything. They talk about care. Well, that’s all if they know you care about them, you coach them, do what you want. But it all comes back to trust.”
It’s a philosophy echoed in his best-selling book and his frequent media appearances to build trust, tell the truth, and everything else including NBA dreams, tournament runs, even culture will follow.
“You can mold them and coach them and demand and make them uncomfortable as long as they know you’re who you say you are,” Calipari said.
That message resonates in a college basketball era where loyalty is small and the transfer portal looms large.
Arkansas, like many top programs, has overhauled its roster for 2024-25, leaning on a mix of returning talent and transfer veterans.
The Razorbacks bring back key contributors from last year’s Sweet 16 run in Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond, DJ Wagner, and Karter Knox while adding impact transfers like Malique Ewin from Florida State and Nick Pringle from Alabama and South Carolina.
To that, Calipari has stacked the No. 6 recruiting class in the country, headlined by five-star guards Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, plus four-star local product Isaiah Sealy. The blend of experience and youth has raised expectations in Fayetteville, but Calipari’s focus remains clear.
“I’m not doing it at the expense of the kids,” he told Hardaway.
For Hardaway, who knows both the pressure and promise of coaching at a basketball-mad school, Calipari’s approach hits home.
On the podcast, the Memphis coach reflected on his own journey and the bond between the two men, rooted in mutual respect and the shared challenge of building programs in a volatile era.
“I look forward to future games, hopefully, with you guys,” Hardaway told Calipari, hinting at possible showdowns between Arkansas and Memphis, two schools hungry for national relevance and led by coaches who see themselves as mentors first, tacticians second.
Calipari’s culture-building is not just a matter of recruiting five-star talent. It’s about setting standards that extend off the court.
“He wants to see the Razorbacks’ feet move fast and heads move slow,” he told the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association, emphasizing poise, composure, and high standards.
The hope is that those habits take root, shaping players who are not just ready for March, but for the NBA and beyond.
“Humility is the key to continuous growth and improvement,” Calipari has said, a mantra that now echoes through the Razorbacks’ locker room.
Still, there are skeptics. Critics have long accused Calipari of prioritizing pros over banners, quick exits over continuity. He’s heard it all before and addressed it directly with Hardaway.
“There are people who say, ‘He don’t care about winning.,’” Cal said in one of his rambling way where the almost interviews himself at times. “How about most NCAA wins? How about Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Fours in there? How about league champion? But ‘I don’t care about winning.’ How good would we be if I cared about winning?”
The rhetorical question lands with a grin but also a challenge.
This balancing act between building a culture and building a winner will ultimately determine Calipari’s tenure in Fayetteville if there are enough wins.
The Razorbacks’ new roster is flush with potential, but the SEC is as tough as ever. Kentucky, Tennessee, and a surging Alabama all loom in a conference where a Sweet 16 appearance is a high bar, not a guarantee.
Calipari knows the stakes, but his blueprint is unchanged.
“Every other coach is looking out for themselves. I’m looking out for you,” he told recent recruits in a story by John Ritter Conn for The Ringer.
Off the court, Calipari’s impact is already rippling through the Arkansas community. Local coaches and fans speak of renewed energy at practices and recruiting events.
National analysts have noted the Razorbacks’ rise up recruiting rankings, and an early projection by CBS put Arkansas in the SEC’s top tier for the coming season. The transfer portal, once seen as a threat to culture, is now another tool for Calipari to mold his roster—and his culture—on the fly.
Penny Hardaway, for his part, sees the competition sharpening.
“It’s good for our game when coaches like John are pushing the envelope,” he said after their conversation.
The two coaches may be rivals, but they share a vision to create programs where trust, honesty, and development matter as much as the win-loss column. For both men, culture is built day by day, conversation by conversation, even podcast by podcast.
There’s hope for another deep March run, but more than that, there’s curiosity of what a true Calipari culture will look like in Fayetteville? Can his philosophy survive the chaos of the modern game, the lure of the NBA, and the pressure of SEC expectations?
“If I get to a point where I can’t have an impact, then I won’t do it anymore,” Calipari said.
For now, though, the impact is undeniable, the challenge fresh, and the sense of possibility as high as it’s been in years for Arkansas basketball.
Ruscin & Zach July 1
We start off July talking about all the people getting rich today (especially Bobby Bonilla). Then we hear about Bill’s Gorilla Glue story.
Alyssa Orange on summer baseball, new rules on college sports
With changes starting Tuesday, how Razorbacks stack up in SEC from a revenue standpoint and budgeting future.
Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy on impact of new rules for college sports
Not a question of sport at top, but how much of revenue does football have in relation to other sports.
Missouri State’s Zack Stewart joins Razorbacks as outfield transfer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Missouri State outfielder Zack Stewart, once the top prospect in his home state, announced Tuesday that he’s transferring to Arkansas, a move that could reshape Dave Van Horn’s outfield just as the program prepares for another run at Omaha.
With the Razorbacks facing significant turnover in its outfield and high expectations from both fans and coaching staff.
Stewart, who stands 6-foot-2, emerged as a candidate for either corner outfield spot. His commitment marks the first outfield addition for the Hogs via the transfer portal this offseason, and his reputation precedes him.
Stewart was previously ranked as Missouri’s No. 1 overall prospect, just ahead of current Razorback Reese Robinett, who was ranked fourth in the same class.
While Stewart’s production dipped in 2025, the Razorbacks are betting on his tools and upside as they look to reload a roster that could lose all three starting outfielders to the MLB Draft or graduation.
The transfer comes amid a broader trend in college baseball, where top programs have come to rely on the portal as much as high school recruiting.
Dave Van Horn, entering his 23rd season as Arkansas’s coach, has become known for his ability to retool quickly.
“The transfer portal is tough,” Van Horn admitted recently. “I have mixed emotions on it. First off, as a coach, you recruit a kid. You’d like to keep them, but sometimes, moving on is best for everyone.”
Van Horn has used the portal to revamp his outfield in each of the past two years, and the 2025 transfer class is already drawing national attention.
The Razorbacks’ incoming portal class ranks No. 2 in the country, according to Baseball America. Stewart’s arrival is expected to strengthen a roster that saw its depth tested during the 2024 season, especially as the Razorbacks made a push for the College World Series.
The need for reinforcements was clear. Arkansas’s outfield is in flux after the departures of key veterans.
Logan Maxwell exhausted his eligibility, and both Jared Wegner and Jace Bohrofen are draft-eligible. In this context, Stewart’s experience and versatility are seen as assets.
“It’s time for them to make their move and leave their mark on this program. My expectations are the same as the team. We need to get better every week,” Van Horn said of his newcomers.
Stewart’s career at Missouri State showcased both promise and adversity. After earning all-conference honors as a sophomore and drawing attention for his power and arm strength, Stewart battled through a challenging junior season.
His batting average dipped, but scouts remain intrigued by his athleticism and ability to play multiple outfield positions.
Van Horn, for his part, has not shied away from high expectations. The Razorbacks reached the 50-win mark for the first time in his tenure last year, and the sense is that the program remains just one breakthrough away from a national championship.
“Winning that elusive national championship is the only thing left,” wrote one local columnist, capturing the mood around Fayetteville.
Stewart’s transfer is seen less as a gamble and more as a necessary move in a hyper-competitive SEC landscape.
The Razorbacks’ embrace of the transfer portal reflects broader changes in college athletics, as student-athletes seek playing time and exposure while coaches aim to build deeper and more versatile rosters.
Van Horn, who has expressed both ambivalence and pragmatism about the portal, summed it up simply.
“You’ve got to adjust or get left behind. That’s just the way it is now.”
Arkansas’s willingness to adapt has kept it near the top of the SEC and in perennial NCAA tournament contention.
The 2025 Arkansas roster is far from settled. Alongside Stewart, several other transfers are set to join the team, and the MLB Draft will likely claim more than a few Razorbacks. The addition of Stewart signals a belief that Arkansas can remain a force despite roster churn.
“If you want to compete in this league, you need guys who aren’t afraid of a challenge,” Van Horn said in a recent press conference.
Stewart, who comes to Fayetteville with something to prove, fits that mold.
For Stewart, the move represents both a fresh start and a new set of expectations.
“Arkansas is a place where you’re expected to win. That’s why I’m here,” he said in a statement released by the university. The hope is that a change of scenery, combined with the Razorbacks’ renowned development program, will help Stewart recapture the form that made him a top prospect out of high school.
As summer workouts begin and the Razorbacks’ roster takes shape, the focus will turn to how Stewart and his fellow transfers fit into Van Horn’s plans. The SEC remains as unforgiving as ever, with powerhouse programs reloading through both recruiting and the portal. In this environment, every transfer and every roster move matters.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-1-25
College football inches closer by the day. Does today mark a historical moment in college sports. Arkansas revenue sharing, and more.
Guests: Bruce Stanton and Tom Murphy!
Razorbacks rebuild: Transfers, depth chart battles shape 2024 football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — By the end of spring, Arkansas barely resembled the one that limped through last fall.
With more than half the roster turned over, new faces, many via the transfer portal, line up across the practice field, each fighting for a spot in the season opener against Alabama A&M on August 30.
This is not just a reshuffle; it’s a full-blown recalibration of Razorback football under coach Sam Pittman.
Sixty percent of the Razorbacks’ 85-man scholarship roster consists of newcomers, a seismic shift even by modern college football standards.
“It’s a lot of new, but I like the energy,” Pittman said after a recent practice. “We’ve got competition at almost every spot, and that’s healthy for us.”
The departures, 36 scholarship players including three high school signees, have been offset by a wave of 30 transfers, 19 high school recruits, and two junior college additions.
The most intense battles rage on the right side of the offensive line, at wide receiver, and throughout the secondary. Five transfer offensive linemen and one junior college player are pushing six scholarship returnees for starting jobs, a level of competition that Pittman has publicly welcomed.
“We needed to get older and stronger up front,” he said, a nod to the struggles that plagued the unit last year.
At wide receiver, Arkansas is almost starting from scratch.
The 2024 roster returns little production but has added three proven Group of Five transfers along with highly-touted freshmen like Courtney Crutchfield and Stanford’s Ismael Cisse.
Spring brought more reinforcements in Jalen Brown from Florida State and Andy Jean, who spent time at both Florida and Pitt.
Brown, recently with the Seminoles, is looking for a fresh start.
“This is a place where I can show who I am on and off the field,” he told local media.
The Razorbacks’ projected depth chart at wide receiver is a patchwork of new names. Andrew Armstrong and Tyrone Broden, both seniors, anchor the outside, while sophomore Isaiah Sategna is a favorite for the slot.
Reserves like CJ Brown and freshman Davion Dozier are pushing for reps, and the arrival of Brown and Jean has only intensified the battle for snaps.
Quarterback Taylen Green, a transfer from Boise State, is penciled in as the starter. Green brings dual-threat ability and leadership qualities that Arkansas sorely needs.
“He’s got the arm and the feet, but more than that, he’s got the confidence to command a huddle,” offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino said. The backup spot is probably KJ Jackson leading the way after Madden Iamaleav departed for the California sunshine.
The offensive line’s overhaul was among the offseason’s top priorities.
Last year’s group struggled with protection, resulting in far too many sacks and a stagnant run game. In response, the Razorbacks added experience and size through the portal, hoping for instant improvement.
“We’re not just filling holes,” said Pittman. “We want to dominate the line, period.”
Players like Fernando Carmona and E’Marion Harris are expected to anchor the left side, but the right side remains wide open.
On defense, the secondary is the team’s biggest question mark. Injuries during spring compounded the uncertainty, but the addition of Julian Neal—regarded as Arkansas’ top-ranked transfer offers hope.
“Julian’s got SEC speed and has been a leader from day one,” defensive coordinator Travis Williams said. Other new faces, including safeties from the portal and promising freshmen, will be counted on early and often.
Defensive tackle depth is stronger than last year, with Cameron Ball, Eric Gregory, and Anthony Rose forming a sturdy rotation.
Even here, Arkansas is hedging its bets, knowing the SEC gauntlet will test every layer of the depth chart.
“We’ve got three we like, but we need more guys ready to go,” Williams said.
Special teams is another area of flux, with position battles at kicker and punter expected to last into fall camp. Transfers and walk-ons alike have been given opportunities to win jobs, and Pittman has made clear that no role is safe.
“We’re not handing anything out this year,” he said. “If you want a spot, you earn it every day.”
The transfer portal has changed the calculus for Arkansas and every other program in the SEC. Pittman, entering a pivotal season, knows this year’s success or failure could hinge on how quickly the newcomers gel.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s also exciting. Our fans want to see results, and these kids are hungry to deliver,” Pittman said.
If there’s a unifying thread to this Razorback roster, it’s uncertainty, mixed with the kind of cautious optimism that only a clean slate can bring.
“We’re still probably somewhere between four and six additions out of the portal…and we’ll take our time there,” Pittman said, signaling that the roster churn may not even be finished.
Razorback football in 2024 will be defined not by who left, but by the newcomers eager to leave their mark.
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Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara didn’t know if there was a relation (there isn’t) but some really interesting circumstantial connections.
Ruscin & Zach June 30
Did Tye really hit a hole in one? Our I-Team investigates. Plus since there are no sports to watch, Ruscin started and electrician apprenticeship.
