Arkansas’ first summer test in the Bahamas turned into a showcase for two freshmen who looked ready for bigger roles right away.
In a 106-59 win over the Bahamas National Team on Friday night in Nassau, true freshman Maper Maker and 17-year-old guard Davion Thompson both left their mark for the Razorbacks. Maker, a 6-foot-11 freshman, posted four points, six rebounds, five blocks and five steals in a little more than 21 minutes, and he led Arkansas’ post players in minutes.
His length bothered the Bahamas National Team everywhere on the floor, and he flashed the kind of defensive versatility Arkansas wanted to see. Associate head coach Kenny Payne, running the team while John Calipari watched from a box off the floor, said Maker’s work stood out immediately.
“I loved it. I loved the fact that he had five blocks, five steals," Payne said of Maker.
"I just talked to him, pulled him aside, and said, you're playing the four, and you're doing that. He never played the five tonight, he was on the perimeter a lot, and he did that from the perimeter.
"So I like that, shows that he's active, that he can move his feet, get his hands on balls with the steals, but also if he's under that basket and you try to shoot it, he can block it. We need that. We didn't have that last year."
Arkansas had issues in the post for much of last season, even if the Razorbacks were solid at protecting the rim. Payne spent much of the night mixing and matching lineups, including stretches in the second half with at least two players who were 6-foot-11 or taller on the floor.
That size made a difference even when the bigs weren’t perfect. Their presence forced opponents to think twice, which gave Arkansas’ perimeter defenders more time to recover and get a hand up.
"[Blocks] definitely played a factor in this game," Payne said. "There were times when they went to the basket, and they saw big coming out, and they decided not to shoot it. But 13 blocks speak for itself, but it wasn't just the bigs, guards go up and block shots.
"[Abdou Toure] had a couple Jordan [Smith, Jr. ] blocked a shot, JJ [Andrews], Billy Richmond III. We have a bunch of really good athletes that defensively can hurt you in a lot of different ways."
Thompson also made sure his name was part of the story. The 17-year-old, one of two players who reclassified to the 2026 class, finished with 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line.
He came in with energy and kept it there, even through a few missed shots early. Thompson’s burst in transition stood out, and he showed he can create separation quickly with just one step down the floor. He added three assists, two rebounds and one steal in 20 minutes.
For Arkansas, the opener in the Bahamas wasn’t just a blowout. It was a first look at a freshman class that already seems capable of changing the way this team looks on both ends.
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