Calipari, Hogs add second top-10 recruit for ’25

Meleek Thomas gives Arkansas second top-10 recruit for 2025

play

Adou Thiero cashes a triple for Arkansas (0:16)

Adou Thiero cashes a triple for Arkansas (0:16)

  • Jeff Borzello

    Close

    Jeff Borzello

    ESPN Staff Writer

    • Basketball recruiting insider.
    • Joined ESPN in 2014.
    • Graduate of University of Delaware.
  • Paul Biancardi

    Close

    Paul Biancardi

    Basketball Recruiting

    • National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
    • 18 years of coaching experience at Division I level
    • Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State

Nov 11, 2024, 08:42 PM ET

Five-star prospect Meleek Thomas committed Monday to Arkansas, giving coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks their second top-10 recruit in the 2025 class.

Arkansas is now the only program in the country with multiple top-10 commits already in the fold, with Thomas, No. 9 in the ESPN 100 and the No. 2 shooting guard, joining Darius Acuff (No. 8/No.1 point guard).

Thomas chose the Razorbacks over hometown Pittsburgh, while UConn also had previously recruited Thomas and was on his final list.

“Everyone I spoke with was so positive on Coach Cal,” Thomas told ESPN. “He has touched so many lives with his guys becoming NBA players and so many others. He and the staff stayed in contact with both me and my family the whole time. I am big on family, and Coach Cal is a warm-hearted person who built a great relationship with both me and my family.”

Arkansas made a strong push down the stretch of Thomas’ recruitment to become the clear leader, with the Razorbacks’ new system a key factor in his decision.

“Their play style was a separating factor,” Thomas said. “Coach Cal holds himself accountable and his players accountable. I am the type that wants to know the truth so I can learn and grow. They will have a lot of guys who can score, and I am comfortable coming in and playing defense right away.

“The crowds and energy for the program is exciting, and I want to be part of it.”

Thomas is a 6-foot-4 guard from Pittsburgh who is currently playing in the Overtime Elite program. He was one of the top scorers on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring, ranking ninth with 20.3 points per game. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting just under 34% from 3-point range. In six games with the New Heights Lightning at the Nike Peach Jam in July, he averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting better than 37% from 3.

Thomas has a scorer’s mentality but also is capable of coming up with timely assists. He has a thin frame with decent quickness and speed, and is especially effective in transition, either leading the break or finishing the play. He is aggressive but confident with the ball in his hands, not rushing to get to his spot on the floor. Thomas can play both guard positions and has made strides operating in ball-screen situations.

Arkansas now has two of the elite guards in the 2025 class, with Thomas joining forces with Acuff in Fayetteville. Acuff, the top-ranked point guard in the country, committed to the Razorbacks in July. The two of them are enough to put Arkansas near the top of the 2025 recruiting class rankings, but the Razorbacks also are making a strong push for No. 5-ranked prospect Caleb Wilson.

Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
'Borussia Dortmund possible without top talent Moukoko against Ajax' thumbnail

'Borussia Dortmund possible without top talent Moukoko against Ajax'

Borussia Dortmund moet het mogelijk een tijdje doen zonder Youssoufa Moukoko, zo meldt Voetbal International. Het toptalent zou deze interlandperiode moeten uitkomen voor Jong Duitsland, maar is tijdens het trainingskamp geblesseerd afgehaakt. Antonio Di Salvo, bondscoach van het beloftenelftal van de Duitsers, bevestigt het nieuws: 'Helaas heeft hij dinsdag een lichte spierblessure opgelopen. We moeten…
Read More
Lose weight sustainably: This simple trick is the first step towards your desired weight thumbnail

Lose weight sustainably: This simple trick is the first step towards your desired weight

Wer an Übergewicht leidet und abnehmen möchte, kann zu Beginn schnell entmutigt werden.Wer wirklich etwas an seiner körperlichen Fitness ändern will, dem kann ein kleiner, aber bedeutender, Schritt helfen: den Körper an mehr Bewegung zu gewöhnen.In einer Interview mit dem Portal 'POPSUGAR' verriet Dr. John Morton, Experte für Gewichtsabnahme und Chef der bariatrischen Chirugie an der Stanford…
Read More
Referee error before Liverpool's winner at Nottingham Forest causes controversy as Mark Clattenburg speaks out | Football News | Sky Sports thumbnail

Referee error before Liverpool’s winner at Nottingham Forest causes controversy as Mark Clattenburg speaks out | Football News | Sky Sports

Referee Paul Tierney should have given Nottingham Forest the ball back minutes before Liverpool's dramatic 99th-minute winner that sparked chaotic scenes at full-time.When Tierney stopped play in the 96th minute after Ibrahima Konate went down in the Liverpool box with an apparent head injury, Callum Hudson-Odoi was in possession of the ball but, when play
Read More
Index Of News
Total
0
Share