Adou Thiero and Karter Knox impressed at the NBA Combine, showcasing their potential at the next level. However, in today’s college basketball landscape—where NIL opportunities can rival pro contracts—draft grades aren’t always the deciding factor. According to one college basketball insider, both players may have compelling reasons to return to Arkansas.
Could Thiero and Knox be back in Fayetteville next season?
CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander shared an intriguing take during the Eye On College Basketball podcast. Toward the end of the hour-plus episode, he made a comment that quickly caught the attention of Razorback fans online.
“I think Adou Thiero and Karter Knox both wind up back at Arkansas,” Norlander said.
That 14-word remark stirred plenty of excitement within the Razorback fanbase—especially since at least one of the two players was widely assumed to be headed to the NBA Draft. Karter Knox, despite improving his draft stock during the pre-draft process, always gave off the impression that he might return to school. Meanwhile, Adou Thiero, arguably Arkansas’ most valuable player in 2024–25, seemed like a stronger candidate to stay.
The Kentucky transfer led the team with 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, often taking control during critical moments. He also contributed 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks per contest. Among the three Razorbacks who declared for the draft, Thiero appeared the most likely to return.
His biggest question mark heading into the combine was his shooting. While he shot an efficient 54.5% from the field, many of his attempts came near the basket. He was elite at drawing contact but inconsistent at the free-throw line—a concern for scouts.
Even with his shooting issues, most projections placed Thiero in the mid-first to early second round of the draft. Still, with NIL opportunities potentially matching NBA rookie contracts, Arkansas might be able to offer enough incentive to bring him back.
Uncertainty Surrounding Representation
Another wrinkle in the story is NCAA eligibility. Players hoping to retain college eligibility must either go through the draft process without an agent or use one certified by the NCAA. That’s where things get murky for both players.
Knox’s college agent, Kevin Bradbury, does not currently appear in the NCAA’s agent directory. Thiero is signed with Klutch Sports, where only one agent—Michael Kneisley—is listed as NCAA-certified.
That said, Thiero’s situation might be more flexible. While we know he signed with Klutch, his specific agent hasn’t been publicly confirmed. It’s possible Kneisley is representing him, even though Thiero isn’t listed as one of his current clients—rosters like that aren’t always up to date.
Knox’s situation is slightly clearer but raises more concern. Bradbury has represented him previously, though primarily for NIL deals, not draft representation. If Knox avoided signing Bradbury for NBA draft purposes, he could still return to Arkansas under NCAA rules.
What It Would Mean for Arkansas
If both Thiero and Knox return, it would be a huge win for the Razorbacks. Knox has made steady strides since his debut, and bringing back the team’s top scorer could dramatically shift Arkansas’ ceiling. With their return, the Hogs could be in serious contention for a deep NCAA Tournament run—perhaps even a Final Four appearance.
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