John Calipari and Arkansas add Russian center Ilia Frolov to elite recruiting haul

John Calipari has always been able to recruit. And yes, the scales have been evened a bit due to rival programs being able to outbid Calipari on the recruiting trail, but he's still amongst the best of the best in this NIL era. Calipari's brand speaks for itself, but he's doing a good job of building up the Arkansas Razorbacks right alongside it. In two seasons at Arkansas, he's gone 50-23 and last season the Razorbacks won the SEC Tournament. Now in full offseason mode, he's putting together an elite 2026 recruiting class.  To that point, Arkansas just added an international commitment from big man Ilia Frolov. He's a 6-foot-11, 225-pound center from Russia with a ton of potential. Frolov took an official visit to Arkansas earlier this week, and that really sold him on Calipari and the Razorbacks. “It was an amazing visit. Coach Calipari and the staff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Coach Cal can teach me a lot about the game, and I will do whatever it takes to help him win," he said. News: Ilia Frolov, a 6'11", 225‑pound center, tells ESPN he has committed to John Calipari and Arkansas.“It was an amazing visit. Coach Calipari and the staff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Coach Cal can teach me a lot about the game, and I will do whatever it takes to… pic.twitter.com/GXAKNCPyIX Playing for Real Madrid in "Liga U," which is an under-22 junior league in Spain, Frolov averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He shot 36-percent from deep, which is great for a big man, and 52.8% from the floor. Frolov joins a 2026 recruiting class at Arkansas that is the consensus top in the nation.  Calipari and the Razorbacks had already boasted commitments from 5-star guards Jordan Smith Jr. and Abdou Toure, 5-star power forward Miikka Muurinen and 5-star shooting guard JJ Andrews. Calipari and the Razorbacks will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament next year, and now Frolov will be a part of the Arkansas arsenal.  Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!