John Calipari kept a big one at home on Thursday.
In a ceremony at his school, Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy forward JJ Andrews announced his commitment to Arkansas for the 2026 season. In the industry-generated 247 Composite, Andrews is the top-ranked recruit from the state of Arkansas in the Class of 2026. The Razorbacks beat out Mizzou and LSU for his verbal pledge.
His 247 profile lists him at 6-foot-6. ESPN’s Paul Biancardi claims Andrews to be 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan. Either way, he’s an athletic player who bullies smaller defenders. With the Brad Beal Elite EYBL program last year, Andrews led his team to a Nike E16 grassroots championship while averaging 19 points a game. He was a MaxPreps Freshman All-American and, as a junior this past season, he averaged 28.5 points per game to go with 10.1 boards and 3.3 assists
The 247 Composite ranks Andrews as the No. 37 overall prospect in his class and the No. 15 wing. He becomes the first known recruit to commit to Calipari in the 2026 cycle.
Andrews is also the son of former Arkansas offensive lineman and NFL Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews.
Here’s a glimpse at his game:
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
