Return to Arkansas Razorbacks Basketball a ‘No-Brainer’ for Trevon Brazile
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Trevon Brazile, a standout forward for the Arkansas Razorbacks, has decided to return to the team for the upcoming season, calling it a “no-brainer” under the leadership of new head coach John Calipari.
Brazile, who explored both the NBA draft and potential transfers, ultimately chose to remain in Fayetteville. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward averaged 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds last season, making him a key player for the Razorbacks. His return is seen as a significant boost to the team, which has high aspirations for the upcoming season.
“About halfway through the summer, he came up to me and said, ‘Man, you’re better than I thought you were,’” Brazile said, recounting a conversation with Calipari. “I just told him, ‘I told you so.’”
Calipari, who was hired after Eric Musselman left to take over at Southern California, has brought a renewed sense of excitement and ambition to the program. The veteran coach, who has led teams to six Final Fours and three national championship games, has a track record of success that has Razorbacks fans buzzing with anticipation.
Arkansas secured Calipari with a five-year contract featuring an annual base salary of $7 million, running through April 2029.
The deal includes a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances, potentially extending it to 2031. With this substantial investment comes the lofty ambition of capturing a national title, which would be the second for both Arkansas and Calipari.
Calipari has wasted no time in reshaping the roster, bringing in Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo, former Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis, and three of his players from Kentucky: DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero, and Zvonimir Ivisic. He also signed three five-star prospects, with point guard Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, and Billy Richmond III, all rated among the nation’s top 25 recruits in the 247Sports composite rankings.
“It was only a few short months ago, I walked in with no team, no staff, and no schedule, and now we’re talking about … how do we get them to come together but think bigger,” Calipari said in a press conference on Monday. “You think big but you work bigger. This is not being delusional. You’re not dreaming dreams. This is about what you’re trying to accomplish for yourself. I’m trying to get them to think like kings, because kings think differently.”
While Arkansas may not have the storied basketball history of Kentucky, the Razorbacks have a proud tradition of their own.
The team has reached six Final Fours, won the national title in 1994, and returned to the championship game the following year.
Calipari acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic. “I’ve got a big job here, to get this thing right and have people look at us and say, what are they doing? How do they do that?” he said. “Let people look at this and say, ‘Wow, here it goes again.’”
As the season approaches, the Razorbacks’ faithful are eager to see how Calipari’s influence and Brazile’s return will shape the future of Arkansas basketball. With a blend of experienced transfers and highly-touted recruits, the team is poised for an exciting and potentially historic season.
