For more than a decade at Kentucky, John Calipari built a reputation as college basketball’s top NBA talent producer. In his first year, five Kentucky players went in the first round, including stars like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. He never hit that number again, but year after year, at least one of his guys heard their name called in the first round of the draft night.
Now at Arkansas, Calipari faces a familiar question with a new player. Of the Razorbacks who tested the draft waters, only Adou Thiero stayed in. Boogie Fland and Karter Knox ultimately returned to college, with Fland transferring to Florida and Knox coming back to Fayetteville.
With Calipari’s perfect streak of first-rounders on the line, all eyes are on whether Thiero can be the one to carry it forward.
CBS Analyst Offers Two Cents on Adou Thiero’s Draft Chances
During a live stream of “Eye On College Basketball,” a fan asked CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein if Adou Thiero had a real shot at being a first-round pick and continuing Calipari’s streak. Finkelstein offered a measured, but honest, assessment.
“Unlikely, not impossible,” he said. “If he is, on the surface he’s more of a second-round pick. His chances of being a first-round pick come down to his ability to convince NBA teams that he’s going to be able to shoot. There’s not much in his numbers or his tape from this point that will convince people.”
He went on to say that Thiero’s path to the first round likely depends on a strong pre-draft workout. If he can convince a team that his shooting is coming along, they might view him as a valuable “3-and-D” option. But right now, there is not much belief in his shot based on what he has shown so far.
John Calipari Is Betting Big on Adou Thiero
Despite concerns about his outside shot, John Calipari remains confident in Adou Thiero’s NBA potential.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, he said, “Adou Thiero is a first-round draft pick, and I’m going to tell you why. I love the physicalness of the league right now. I love it because you get to work to get a basket. It ain’t H.O.R.S.E. anymore.”
Keep Reading: John Calipari Identifies Key Reason Behind OKC’s Success He Learned Coaching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at Kentucky
“Adou can play in a physical game and, athletically, be in the top one percent. He’s somebody if you pass on, they’ll look back and say, ‘How many people passed on him?'”
“I wouldn’t miss on Adou Thiero in this draft..
He can play in a physical game and athletically he’s in that one percent..
He’s that good and he’s a good kid” @CoachCalArk #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/coqTKGddkx
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 19, 2025
Few coaches know Thiero better than Calipari. The veteran head coach worked with him for three seasons, two at Kentucky and one at Arkansas, watching his growth firsthand. Thiero took a major leap as a junior with the Razorbacks, starting 26 of 27 games while averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
That jump was significant compared to his sophomore year at Kentucky, where he posted 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. His development helped Arkansas reach the Sweet Sixteen.
With the draft approaching and Thiero still in the mix, the coming days will decide whether Calipari’s long-standing first-round streak can carry over to Arkansas.
