Arkansas basketball holds second annual Primetime at the Palace showcase

Arkansas basketball fans packed Bud Walton Arena on Friday, October 3, 2025, for the second annual Primetime at the Palace showcase event, where men’s head coach John Calipari and women’s head coach Kelsi Musick previewed the upcoming season. According to wholehogsports.com, the event featured team introductions, a half-court shooting contest, a dunk contest won by junior wing Billy Richmond III, a three-point contest won by 17-year-old guard Davion Thompson, and a light 10-minute scrimmage.

Razorbacks Roster Outlook And Returning Hardware

During the event, Calipari addressed the crowd for five and a half minutes, highlighting the youth of his roster and reflecting on the accomplishments of the 2025-26 team. Wholehogsports.com reported that junior wing Billy Richmond carried out the 2026 SEC Tournament Championship trophy while wearing a championship hat. Calipari told the fans, as quoted by wholehogsports.com: If we stay together, if we work, sacrifice, if we do it for each other, if we stay healthy, we were going to do something special and have some fun. And let me say this: In my mind, we did. We won the SEC Tournament. Meanwhile, women’s basketball coach Kelsi Musick outlined expectations for her squad during her introduction. Musick stated to the audience, according to wholehogsports.com: What this season is going to be is some up-tempo offense. We’re going to get out and run right here on Nolan Richardson Court, and we’re going to give you our version of ‘40 Minutes of Hell.’

Hank Pruitt Wins Half-Court Shot Prize

The evening’s festivities kicked off with a half-court shooting contest involving five students competing for a $20,000 prize. Arkansarazorbacks.com noted that Coach Calipari offered to match the initial $10,000 prize for each basket made. On the very first attempt, student Hank Pruitt swished his shot to claim $20,000 as players and coaches swarmed him on the court. Later in the night, the dunk contest featured high-flying dunks from Jordan Smith Jr., Abdou Toure, Jeremiah Wilkinson, Miikka Muurinen, JJ Andrews, and Billy Richmond. Fans voted via a QR code on the jumbotron, crowning Richmond the winner with 73.5% of the vote after he executed a 360-degree, one-handed dunk and a reverse windmill. In the three-point contest, Davion Thompson scored 21 points to take the title, outpacing Wilkinson and Toure, who tied for second with 16 points apiece, as well as Andrews with 15 and both Muurinen and Ilia Frolov with 14.

White Team Wins Light Scrimmage

The night concluded with a light 10-minute scrimmage that resembled an NBA All-Star Game with minimal defensive intensity. Arkansarazorbacks.com reported that the white team defeated the red team 32-28, though wholehogsports.com noted that Calipari briefly walked across the court less than 70 seconds into the action to scold players following a foul. During the scrimmage, 7-foot forward Miikka Muurinen showcased his shooting and dunking ability shortly after receiving official NCAA eligibility. Teammate Abdou Toure shared his reaction to the eligibility ruling with wholehogsports.com, saying: When I found out that news, I might have been more excited than him. It means a lot. That’s a great player, 7-foot, can do everything on the floor. We need him out there.

Fans Take Over The Court At Bud Walton Arena

Following the conclusion of the on-court competitions and scrimmage, spectators were invited down from the stands to meet the players. Arkansarazorbacks.com described the final phase of the evening as fans storming the court to gather autographs and take photos with the men’s and women’s Razorbacks teams ahead of the upcoming season.

I was out front with a bunch of fans that waited a long time to be here. And we just want to let you know we appreciate all of you, and we feel your passion and excitement.

John Calipari