Arkansas secures commitment from the 26th-ranked recruit, Karter Knox, under the guidance of John Calipari.

Karter Knox, ranked as the 26th recruit in the 2024 ESPN 100, has reaffirmed his commitment to John Calipari, opting for Arkansas after previously decommitting from Kentucky, as he informed ESPN on Monday.

“Throughout my entire recruitment journey, Coach Cal consistently expressed his desire to help me reach my potential as a professional player, and I believe he’ll do just that for me at Arkansas,” Knox stated. “I also have a strong rapport with Coach Kenny Payne, so having the opportunity to play under two coaches whom I deeply respect is a dream come true. I’m eager to arrive, put in the work, and contribute to a successful program.”

Payne, formerly the head coach at Louisville, will be joining Calipari’s staff as associate head coach.

Known for his aggressive scoring ability, Knox has showcased his talents in high school basketball, averaging 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 30 minutes per game in the Overtime Elite League this season. He notably sank 81 three-pointers in 30 games for RWE, who narrowly lost in the decisive Game 5 of the OTE Finals against the City Reapers.

In the Nike EYBL last spring and summer, Knox recorded 19.8 points in just 24 minutes per game, making him the top per-minute scorer in the league. This accomplishment mirrored his achievements in 2022 (at the 16U level) and 2021 (15U).

Following Calipari’s move to Arkansas earlier this month, Knox opted to reconsider his options. He has now reunited with the coach who played a significant role in his brother Kevin Knox’s development, helping him secure the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft after a single season at Kentucky.

Karter Knox is among a group of highly regarded high school seniors, formerly part of the No. 2 recruiting class in college basketball, who have chosen to part ways with Kentucky following Calipari’s departure. There is potential for them to reunite at Fayetteville; undecided five-stars Jayden Quaintance and Boogie Fland, along with four-stars Billy Richmond and Somto Cyril, may join forces there.

With all 13 of Arkansas’ scholarship players from the previous season either exhausting their eligibility, entering the transfer portal, or heading to the NBA draft, Calipari now has a clean slate to work with. Arkansas’ first commitment via the transfer portal came from Kentucky freshman Zvonimir Ivisic.