John Calipari has long been recognized as one of college basketball’s premier recruiters. He’s known for landing top-tier talent like Boogie Fland and Darius Acuff. Recently, however, he’s begun to show a knack for identifying rising stars before they blow up nationally.
JJ Andrews Shines at Peach Jam, Earns MVP Honors
When JJ Andrews committed to Arkansas, 247Sports had him ranked No. 43 in the nation. Since then, he’s surged to No. 13, just shy of 5-star status. On3 also places him just outside that elite tier, while ESPN has already bumped him up to 5-star territory. If his upward trajectory continues, the Little Rock Christian standout could soon solidify his spot among the top recruits in the country.
Andrews recently led Brad Beal Elite to a dominant 75–55 win over the New York Renaissance in the Peach Jam championship game—his second straight title at the event. Despite a quiet first half, Andrews took over in the final 16 minutes, scoring 18 points, grabbing two rebounds, and dishing out an assist. His second-half performance ultimately sealed the win and earned him tournament MVP honors.
John Calipari’s recruiting prowess is on full display with prospects like JJ Andrews, who just capped off a dominant Peach Jam performance. The 6-foot-6, 220‑pound wing poured in 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out two assists in the title game, propelling Brad Beal Elite to a 75–55 victory. Across the tournament, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals on 47.1 percent shooting—numbers that earned him MVP honors.
247Sports analyst Travis Branham couldn’t hide his enthusiasm. “Andrews is such a physical presence with his strength, athleticism, and motor,” Branham wrote, “and his continual improvement in the half‑court has taken his game to new heights. Though still a four‑star recruit in the top 15, he’s making a strong case to become the next five‑star prospect.”
Andrews’ rise—from No. 43 in the country at the time of his Arkansas commitment to a near‑five‑star, top‑15 talent—cements him among the elite in the 2026 class and adds yet another name to Calipari’s already impressive recruiting ledger.
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