Calipari's busy Razorbacks' prospect visit calendar has key change in September

Originally posted on Arkansas Razorbacks on SI
By Kevin McPherson | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 6:00 PM ET

Recruiting is not an exact science, not even close, and part of that equation are visits that are scheduled and how frequently they change.

In the case of Arkansas coach John Calipari, he's typically way ahead of the ever-changing landscape of recruiting, including visit date swaps that often confuse fans and sometimes even the media that cover recruiting.

Case in point is the second visit-date change, meaning a third date for taking his official visit, for 2026 priority Arkansas target Arafan Diane (7-1 forward-center, Iowa United Prep, national Top 10. 5-star prospect).

Diane was set to visit Arkansas the weekend of Sept. 12-14, and prior to those plans was originally slotted to come to campus Aug. 29-31, but apparently now both dates are off.

Diane told us on Tuesday that he has reset his Arkansas visit for the weekend of Sept. 19-21.

"They (visit dates) have changed," Diane said. "I will be there on Sept. 19."

His new dates were confirmed by his guardian, Alex Victor, although Victor told us a formal list of as many as five upcoming OV's for Diane will be released on social media later this week.

Is Calipari doubling up on same weekend visits?

The significance regarding Diane's new visit plans is based on how other known official visits are scheduled as of today.

Diane will be on campus the same weekend that 2026 Jordan Smith, Jr. (6-2 guard, native of Fairfax, Va., national No. 2, 5-star prospect) is set to take his official visit to Arkansas.

Multiple official visits on the same weekend would mark a first for Calipari at Arkansas when you look at his 2025 recruit visit cycle last year and the way the current is laid out. Well, how it was laid out until the Diane change.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that Smith, Jr., could move up or move out his OV date, but for now it appears he and Diane will be on campus together.

Both players have other visit dates scheduled as well that push into October.