Meleek Thomas gives Arkansas second top-10 recruit for 2025

Five-star prospect Meleek Thomas committed to Arkansas on Monday, giving coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks their second top-10 recruit in the class of 2025.

Arkansas is now the only program in the country with multiple top-10 commitments already in the fold, with Thomas, No. 9 in the ESPN 100 and No. 2 shooting guard, joining Darius Acuff (No. 8/No.1 point guard).

Thomas chose the Razorbacks over his hometown of Pittsburgh, while UConn had also previously recruited Thomas and he was on their final list.

“Everyone I talked to was very positive about Coach Cal,” Thomas told ESPN. “He has touched so many lives with his boys becoming NBA players and many others. He and the staff stayed in touch with me and my family the entire time. I love family and Coach Cal is a kind-hearted person. who built a great relationship with both me and my family.

Arkansas made a strong push late in Thomas' recruitment to become the undisputed leader, with the Razorbacks' new system being a key factor in their decision.

“His style of play was a separating factor,” Thomas said. “Coach Cal holds himself and his players accountable. I'm the type that wants to know the truth so I can learn and grow. They'll have a lot of guys who can score, and I feel comfortable coming in and playing defense right away.

“The crowd and the energy of the show is exciting and I want to be a part of it.”

Thomas is a 6-foot-4 guard from Pittsburgh who currently plays in the Overtime Elite program. He was one of the top scorers on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring, ranking ninth with 20.3 points per game. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting just under 34% from 3-point range. In six games with the New Heights Lightning at the Nike Peach Jam in July, he averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting over 37% on 3-pointers.

Thomas has a goalscorer mentality but is also capable of providing timely assists. He has a lean frame with decent quickness and speed, and is especially effective in transition, whether leading the counterattack or finishing the play. He is aggressive but confident with the ball in his hands and does not rush to his spot on the court. Thomas can play both guard positions and has come a long way operating in ball-screen situations.

Arkansas now has two of the elite guards in the 2025 class, with Thomas joining forces with Acuff in Fayetteville. Acuff, the nation's top-ranked point guard, committed to the Razorbacks in July. The two are enough to put Arkansas near the top of the 2025 recruiting class rankings, but the Razorbacks are also making a strong push for No. 5-ranked prospect Caleb Wilson.