As soon as the time, date and opponent is released for Arkansas basketball’s 2022-23 season opener, the countdown will be on for what is almost certain to be one of the most highly anticipated years for the Hoop Hogs in decades as they enter the fourth year of Eric Musselman’s tenure at the helm.
In fairness, that is a long wait. So, what are Razorback fans supposed to do between now and then? It’s clear that as long as there is gas in the Muss Bus, there is no such thing as an offseason and he’s always good for at least one surprise. With that, we’ve compiled a list of important dates and deadlines to be familiar with that will be adjusted and added to as needed with the summer months on the horizon.
MAY 1 – Transfer portal entry deadline
- May 1 is not the last day a player can enter and/or exit the transfer portal. It is simply the deadline for a player to enter the portal and qualify for immediate eligibility as a first-time transfer. Players can still elect to enter the portal beyond that date, but will be subject to the NCAA waiver process. A transfer can choose its new destination at any time. With that being said, the big fish in the portal sea will pretty much be identified by this point and the ability to “make room” for teams in a scholarship crunch gets more complicated.
MAY 31 – Summer school begins
- Why does this matter? Well, for the Hoop Hogs it means that somewhere close to this date the players — including the No. 2 ranked class of incoming freshmen and an exciting group of transfer additions — will converge on campus to begin class and summer workouts. Arkansas will have up to eight weeks of summer activities which can consist up no more than eight hours per week for weight-training, conditioning and not more than four hours of on-court, skill-related instruction.
JUNE 1 – NBA Draft early incoming withdrawal deadline
- One of the biggest stay-or-go decisions remaining in the country is that of Arkansas forward Jaylin Williams, who has until June 1 to determine whether or not he will remain in the NBA Draft of return to Fayetteville for the 2022-23 season. Williams has the freedom to announce his intentions at any point between now and then, but June 1 at 11:59 pm ET is the deadline.
JUNE 6-8 – Layden Blocker official visit
- It is virtually certain there will be plenty more where this came from, but at the moment the only locked in official visit on the calendar for the Razorbacks is that of instate priority 2023 target Layden Blocker, who will be pushing five-star status when the next Top247 update rolls around. Blocker has visits lined up to Maryland and Kansas State in May and is scheduled to hit Kansas just two days after leaving Fayetteville.
JUNE 17-19 & 24-26 – Live Evaluation Period
- Coaches can get back on the road on the recruiting trail on these weekends for scholastic events approved by the NCAA and NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) and intercollegiate events approved by applicable two-year college governing bodies only. These are typically high school tournament and showcases similar to the GBCA Live event where Arkansas assistant Gus Argenal evaluated ’22 signee Barry Dunning with his McGill-Toolen squad last year.
JUNE 29-30 – NBPA Top 100 Camp
- This weekend features another live evaluation opportunity for coaches to attend the NBPA Top 100 Camp, which features the nation’s most highly-decorated high school prospects. Last year, the event was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando (Fla.). An official list of attendees will be released in the coming weeks.
JULY 6-10 – Live Evaluation Period
- Coaches will be back on the road during this timeframe for NCAA certified events, institutional camps and permissible governing body events much like last weekend. The Nike EYBL Session 4 will be held in Kansas City (Mo.). The Adidas 3SSB Championships will take place in Rock Hill (SC). The Under Armor Rise Championships will be in Cartersville (Ga.).
JULY 20-24 – Final Live Evaluation Period
- The culmination of the grassroots season takes place July 20-24 when the best of the best from the Nike EYBL convenes in North Augusta (SC) for the prestigious Peach Jam tournament. Expect the Arkansas staff to be out in full force.
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