Arkansas lands 6-foot-11 Russian center out of Real Madrid system

John Calipari’s international recruiting push in Fayetteville has another name to show for it.

Russian center Ilia Frolov has committed to Arkansas basketball after wrapping up an official visit with the Razorbacks this week, giving the Hogs a long-term project with legitimate size.

Frolov is a 6-foot-11, 225-pound center who spent last season with Real Madrid’s U22 squad in Spain’s Liga U — a developmental circuit that functions similar to the NBA G-League.

Rather than sit on the bench behind established pros on Real Madrid’s senior roster, he got consistent reps and made the most of them.

Frolov averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 52.8% from the floor, 36.1% from three and 84.6% from the free throw line.

That free throw percentage and three-point shooting together paint a picture of a big man with real touch and range.

The campus visit was a critical piece of the puzzle.

Calipari and his staff wanted to evaluate Frolov in person, get updated measurements and put him through workouts, drills and scrimmages before moving forward.

Getting a firsthand look at his strength and physicality gave the staff the confirmation they needed.

The Hogs also had to work through the eligibility paperwork that typically accompanies an international commitment. Once both sides cleared those hurdles, the decision came quickly.

Razorbacks building depth up front with global reach

Frolov is the fourth international player Arkansas has added over the last two seasons and the second on this year’s roster, joining Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen.

Bosnian big Elmir Dzafic and Lithuanian forward Karim Rtail came aboard last year but didn’t log meaningful minutes.

Frolov arrives with stronger production and a staff evaluation built directly from his time on campus, which sets his situation apart from those earlier additions.

He joins a front court that also features Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, redshirt freshman Paulo Semedo and former four-star Maper Maker.

Calipari has made it clear that the global market is a real part of how he’s building this roster in Fayetteville, and Frolov’s background in the Real Madrid system gives him a foundation to draw from as he prepares to make the jump to SEC competition.