The Miikka Muurinen pickup has improved Arkansas' standing in some eyes.
For most of April, Arkansas basketball was viewed as a top-10 team for the 2026-2027 season. As April ends, the Hogs are being seen in a slightly different light. ESPN released its way-too-early top 25 for the coming college basketball season, based on recent transfer portal activity and recruiting pickups. ESPN now has Arkansas at No. 6 in the country, with the Miikka Muurinen recruitment nudging the Razorbacks up the ladder.
"John Calipari will have to wait and see what Meleek Thomas opts to do with his NBA draft future, but Arkansas could have one of the elite backcourts in the country if Thomas decides to return to Fayetteville," ESPN wrote. "Jordan Smith, the best guard in the 2026 class, and high-scoring Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson are already in tow on the perimeter while Billy Richmond is expected to return despite going through the NBA draft process. Smith is one of four top-25 recruits, joined by five-star forwards JaShawn Andrews and Miikka Muurinen as well as four-star wing Abdou Toure.
Projected starting lineup
Jordan Smith (No. 2 in SC Next 100)
Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.4 PPG at Georgia)
Meleek Thomas (15.6 PPG)
Billy Richmond (11.1 PPG)
Miikka Muurinen (five-star)"
The key point here, as you can plainly see, is that ESPN is projecting Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond to both come back. We just need to wait and see, allowing the dust to settle on these matters. That said, it is interesting to engage in a thought exercise and discuss where Arkansas would stand if indeed Thomas and Richmond both come back. Does No. 6 seem about right with Thomas and Richmond returning? Actually, yes.
Even if Thomas and Richmond come back for one more year, Arkansas still can use a low-post hammer who is rugged and intimidating. That's still a missing piece on this roster. Cooper Bowser is not that guy. Muurinen is definitely not that guy. Arkansas has perimeter defense, perimeter playmaking, perimeter shooting, and frontcourt scoring, but the Hogs still need a flinty rim protector who can send a physical message to opponents. Without that one missing piece, Arkansas is still a cut below the Final Four favorites: Florida, Michigan, Illinois, and Duke.
It is encouraging that if Thomas and Richmond come back, Arkansas probably would go from being a Sweet 16 team to an Elite Eight team, but we have to wait for those decisions to be made ... and for John Calipari to grab one more frontcourt defender and bring him to Fayetteville before the start of the coming season in November.