Abdou Toure, drawn by the story of Calipari, commits Arkansas

The Senior of the 35 years, Abdou Toure, announced his commitment to Arkansas on Friday, giving coach John Calipari his second SC Next 100 recruits the 2026 class.

Toure chose Razorbs on the other finalists providence and UCONN. He made official visits to Arkansas and Providence and unofficial trips to the Huskies Campus. It was perceived that providence was the favorite in the section, but Calipari and the Razorbs could convince Toure.

“Coach Cal and his story was the main reason why I chose Arkansas,” Toure to ESPN told ESPN. “The way he treats his players and how he cares for all his players, along with his energy, was the difference. He is always there for his players. He is the type of coach with whom I can have an open conversation, and prepares his players for the NBA. I saw the practices and were of high intensity.”

Calipari's history with the production of NBA draft teams and how highly classified recruits develop under its tutelage was a toure factor.

“Coach Cal is a players coach. He really cares and loves his players,” he said. “He gave me real comments about my shot. He said I need to have a higher release point in my 3 -point shot.”

A 6 -inch wing of Notre Dame High School (Conn.), Toure is the best classified player in the state. He is the number 31 in general in SC Next 100.

One of the best athletes and finalists of the senior class, Toure plays with constant intensity and impacts the game with its speed, speed and ability to play over the edge. He fills the lane into transition with speed, and when he reaches the edge, his verticality enters. Toure is an effective straight line driver with the ball in his hands, and has a jawdable middle range sweater. Toure is also a switching defender who crashes the offensive vessel.

Playing for Babc in the Adidas 3SSB circuit this year, Toure averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, including a 28 -point output against Wildcat Select in July. He was appointed basketball player of the year of Gatorade Boys in Connecticut after averaging 25.1 points per game as Junior.

Toure is Calipari's second commitment in Class 2026, after the little five -star eaves Jashawn Andrews chose the Razorbacks in May. Arkansas still has several high -end goals on the board, including Jordan Smith, Caleb Holt, Brandon McCoy and Arafan Diane, the last of which Toure played for Guinea in the FIBA ​​U17 2024 World Cup and is someone with whom he is trying to recruit for Fayetteville.