Basketball

Meleek Thomas Commits to NBA Draft, Opting Out of Returning to Arkansas

The SEC All‑Freshman guard will enter the 2026 draft amid a deep class, while Arkansas secures new portal talent.

Meleek Thomas, the Arkansas guard who earned SEC All‑Freshman honors this season, announced that he will remain in the NBA Draft, forgoing a potential return to college.

The 6‑foot‑3 guard measured a 6‑foot‑6¾ wingspan at the Chicago combine, posted a 67 % conversion rate on shots taken inside the rim, and converted 19 % of his attempts at the basket, underscoring his efficiency near the paint.

Combine measurements highlight versatility

Coach John Calipari has voiced confidence that Thomas can hear his name called in the first round, noting that the draft class is unusually deep but that Thomas’s skill set fits a modern NBA role.

Arkansas is already reshaping its roster, having secured commitments from portal players Cooper Bowser and Jeremiah Wilkinson, while five freshmen — Jordan Smith, Abdou Toure, Miikka Muurinen, JJ Andrews and Maper Maker — have pledged to join next season. Returning veterans Isaiah Sealy and Paulo Semedo also announced their stay.

The draft itself will take place on June 23‑24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, a venue that has hosted the event in recent years.

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