Men's Hoops
Elmir Dzafic joins Hogs basketball as Calipari’s international prospect
Bosnian center Elmir Dzafic signs with Arkansas, bringing size and promise to John Calipari’s evolving Razorbacks roster for 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ latest addition comes from across the Atlantic.
Bosnian center Elmir Dzafic, a 7-footer with international experience, has officially joined the Razorbacks, marking another step in John Calipari’s global recruiting strategy for the 2025 season.
NEWS: Bosnian center Elmir Dzafic has committed to Arkansas, agent Misko Raznatovic told ESPN. The 19-year-old 7-footer played for KK Bosna Sarajevo in the Adriatic League 2nd division this season. pic.twitter.com/xXTtCjrLCS
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 12, 2025
He most recently played for KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo in Bosnia’s Division I league.
While his professional minutes were limited (averaging just over seven minutes, 2.4 points, and 1.6 rebounds through seven games) Dzafic turned heads with his performance at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
He averaged a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds across eight games against top international competition.
John Calipari’s gamble on international talent fits a broader pattern.
“We’re going to recruit nationally,” Calipari has said, emphasizing that Arkansas will look beyond traditional borders to find the right players.
This approach has already brought in Karim Rtail, a Lebanese forward with pro experience in Lithuania, and now Dzafic, who Calipari’s staff views as a developmental player and key insurance policy should injuries hit the frontcourt again.
“This isn’t a plug-and-play move,” a source close to the program told HawgSports. “Dzafic’s upside is significant, but he’s here to grow. It’s about building depth and preparing for the grind of an SEC season.”
Dzafic is the 13th addition to Calipari’s first Arkansas roster, and the influx of new faces isn’t over.
The Hogs have managed to retain four important contributors from last year—Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond, DJ Wagner, and, most recently, Karter Knox, who withdrew from the NBA Draft and announced his return in late May.
Alongside retention, Calipari has hit the transfer portal hard, landing veteran big men Malique Ewin (Florida State) and Nick Pringle (Alabama/South Carolina).
In the backcourt, Arkansas welcomes two five-star freshmen, Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, ranked among the best in the 2025 class.
Four-star local product Isaiah Sealy and Rtail round out a recruiting class that’s ranked No. 6 nationally and tops in the SEC according to 247Sports.
