FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The loudest buzz around Arkansas this offseason has centered on Jordan Smith, Jr., Miikka Muurinen and even Russian center Ilia Frolov. But the Razorbacks may have a different kind of problem on their hands: figuring out how to keep 5-star freshman JaShawn “JJ” Andrews on the floor long enough.
Most projections have the Little Rock Christian guard coming off the bench as the sixth or seventh man, tucked behind Jeremiah Wilkinson or junior wing Billy Richmond III. That’s where the puzzle starts for John Calipari. Andrews has the kind of size, athleticism and all-around game that makes it tough to imagine him playing fewer than 26 minutes a night.
At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, with broad shoulders and an NBA-ready frame, Andrews brings a downhill style that jumps off the page. He can attack the rim with force, and his value goes well beyond scoring. His ability to guard multiple positions gives Arkansas a flexible piece in a roster loaded with talent.
That matters because college basketball has leaned hard into age and experience, but Arkansas already saw last season how valuable a physical, forceful presence can be. The Razorbacks had plenty of scoring options, yet Calipari was missing someone who could consistently create contact and make plays through it. That showed up in the Sweet 16 loss to Arizona.
Andrews has already spent years bullying smaller competition at the 5A level in Arkansas. He finished his high school career with 2,865 points at Little Rock Christian, good for No. 5 in state history behind former Junction City and Oklahoma State standout James Anderson.
As a senior, the left-handed guard averaged 31 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, two steals and more than one block per game. He shot 61% from the field, 34% from three and 75% at the line. A lot of that production came from overpowering one-on-one matchups, so the next step is obvious: he has to keep expanding his game against better competition.
That part may be in good hands with Calipari. Arkansas has already seen him speed up development for several players. Darius Acuff emerged as one of the SEC’s top scoring guards, Meleek Thomas added a dependable floater, and Billy Richmond III became a real three-level scorer by conference play.
Calipari also helped Trevon Brazile rediscover himself after inheriting him as a player far removed from his former first-round projection. The Springfield, Miss. native got his confidence back and turned into the player he was supposed to be three years earlier.
If Andrews is willing to learn and put in the work, the path is there for him to become a can’t-miss one-and-done NBA prospect.
He may not start when Arkansas opens exhibition play against Gonzaga in late October, but that won’t tell the full story. In a rotation this deep, pregame introductions won’t define his role.
Andrews has the traits to become one of Arkansas’ most important players. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Calipari’s real challenge is simpler than that: finding enough minutes for a freshman talented enough to demand them.
In Other News...
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The Arkansas pipeline to NBA Summer League is about as crowded as it gets this year, with 11 former Razorbacks set to suit up for various pro teams. The group includes three recent draft picks in Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile, along with a familiar mix of former Hogs such as Adou Thiero, Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis, Ricky Council, Au'Diese Toney and Nick Pringle.
For Arkansas fans, the bigger picture is the range of paths these players are taking into the next stage. Some are arriving with the momentum of draft night, others are trying to turn a summer invite into a longer look, and a few are landing in situations where they will be sharing the floor with former teammates. It gives the Razorbacks a rare kind of July visibility, with so many ex-Hogs spread across the league and each one carrying a little more intrigue than a typical summer roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
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Under Ryan Silverfield, the Razorbacks are looking for dependable targets who can line up, run clean routes and give the offense some stability, and Cisse fits that profile. He has put the injury setback behind him and is expected to be part of the mix, which makes his presence one of those quiet developments that could end up shaping the offense more than anyone realized in the spring. [Read more 🡒]
Darius Acuff Jr. Showed Arkansas Fans Exactly Why His Debut Felt Huge
Darius Acuff Jr.s first NBA Summer League game for the Sacramento Kings gave Arkansas fans a pretty clear preview of why his debut carried so much buzz. The former Razorback put up 25 points with four assists, one rebound and one steal against the Brooklyn Nets, and even though the shot didnt fall early, he kept working his way into the game and found ways to help Sacramento on both ends.
Acuff opened 1-for-10 from the field before settling in and finishing 9-for-29, and his night wasnt just about scoring volume. He forced turnovers while guarding ballhandlers, showed enough poise to keep making plays after the rough start and helped set up a crucial late three-pointer as the Kings pulled out the win. [Read more 🡒]