Carter Knoxplayer number 26 in the tournament 2024 GAMES 100 who gave up Kentuckyrecommitted to John Calipari at Arkansashe told ESPN on Monday.
“Throughout my recruitment, Coach Cal always said he wanted to make me a pro, and I believe he will do that for me at Arkansas,” Knox said. “I also have a great relationship with Coach Kenny Payne, so to play for two coaches I admire is a dream come true. I’m looking forward to getting there, working and bringing winning mentality comes to Fayetteville.”
Payne, the former Louisville head coach, is joins Calipari’s staff as associate head coach.
Knox is one of the most powerful scorers in high school basketball, averaging 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per 30 minutes in the Overtime Elite League this season . He converted 81 3-pointers in 30 games for RWE, which lost the deciding Game 5 of the OTE Finals to the City Reapers.
Knox also scored 19.8 points in just 24 minutes per game in Nike EYBL play last spring and summer, making him the No. 1 scorer per minute in the league — repeating a feat which he achieved in 2022 (at the 16U level) and in 2021 (15U).
He decided to reopen his recruitment later Calipari’s decision to depart for Arkansas in the first day of this month. Now he is reunited with the coach who also helped his brother, Kevin Knoxbecame the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one season at Kentucky.
Karter Knox was among a group of highly touted high school seniors — a group that formerly made up the No. 2 recruiting class in college basketball — who decided to part ways with Kentucky following Calipari’s departure. They could all join forces again in Fayetteville; five stars Jayden Quaintance And Boogie Fland are still undecided about their future plans, as are the four stars Billy Richmond And Somto Cyril.
All 13 of Arkansas’ scholarship players from last season have exhausted their eligibility, entered the transfer portal or are leaving the NBA, leaving Calipari with a new option.
Kentucky freshman Zvonimir Ivisic became Arkansas’ first commitment via transfer portal.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by the NBA, NCAA and international teams.
