Meleek Thomas makes final decision on future with Arkansas
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Meleek Thomas, as expected, is staying in the NBA Draft and will turn to the professional ranks for next season.
With that, Thomas’ Arkansas career comes to a close after a lone season in Fayetteville. The All-SEC Freshman Team member averaged 15.6 points for the Razorbacks last season and will likely be a late first round selection in June.
The 5-star Arkansas freshman’s decision comes just after Billy Richmond III decided he would stay at Arkansas after reports briefly stated that he would stay in the draft. The deadline for early-entrants to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining eligibility was last night at 11:59.
Thomas showed this season that he’s a bucket-getter (though inefficient at times) and an elite 3-point shooter. The 6-foot-5 prospect shot 43.5% from the field and 41% from 3 while maintaining solid defensive numbers, including 1.5 steals per game.
For that reason, combined with his length and athleticism, Thomas could be a very capable player at the next level. At the very least, a solid scoring option off the bench. Thomas will be 20 years old when his first NBA season starts, another reason he’s likely to be a first-round selection.
Arkansas is set to return 5 members of its 2025-26 roster: Richmond, Isaiah Sealy, Ayden Kelley, Amere Brown and Paulo Semedo. The Razorbacks added transfers Cooper Bowser out of Furman and Jeremiah Wilkinson out of Georgia and will benefit from an uber-intriguing freshman class highlighted by Jordan Smith Jr. and international prospect Miikka Muurinen.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
