John Calipari is reuniting with his trusted former assistant, Kenny Payne, who will join the Arkansas basketball staff. Payne, known for his recruiting prowess, has a successful history with Calipari at Kentucky, aiding in recruiting NBA stars and winning a national title. However, the focus is now on recruiting Orlando Antigua, another former Kentucky assistant, who has a strong track record in landing top talents and has a compelling story that resonates well with players.

By the Numbers
  • Payne's stint as Louisville's head coach ended with a 12-52 record.
  • Antigua played a significant role in recruiting notable NBA stars to Kentucky, including John Wall and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Yes, But

Antigua's decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas may face hurdles as he has not yet resigned and may opt to stay in Lexington.

State of Play
  • Calipari is assembling a strong coaching staff at Arkansas to bolster recruiting efforts and improve the team's performance.
  • The recruitment of Antigua and potential transfer of top talent to Arkansas signal a strategic move by Calipari to elevate the program.
What's Next

The focus will be on persuading Antigua to join the Arkansas staff and leveraging his recruiting expertise to secure top-tier talents for the team.

Bottom Line

Calipari's strategic recruitment of Payne and pursuit of Antigua highlight the importance of experienced and successful assistant coaches in building a competitive basketball program, setting the stage for potential improvements and successes at the University of Arkansas.