<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0OG7eZ_1GoB0KwE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0OG7eZ_1GoB0KwE00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Freshman guard Davion Thompson shoots against Gonzaga Oct. 24, 2026. Arkansas Athletics</figcaption></figure>FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Davion Thompson, Arkansas’ youngest player on the roster, stepped up in a big way in the Hogs’ six exhibition games.Across six preseason exhibitions Thompson averaged 11.5 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, shooting 40.7% from the field, 37.9% from three and 87.5% from the free throw line.His biggest moment came late in the Hogs’ matchup against No. 15 Gonzaga. With the Hogs up by two, Thompson hit a step-back 3-pointer, bumping the lead to five.“It was amazing, man,” Thompson said postgame. “Shot clock is going down, and I just felt like I had to go make a play, and the ball went down. So that’s what it was.”Thompson’s 3-pointer was enough to bring home the win for the Hogs, 76-72.“He’s 17 years old, and he made that shot,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said following Thompson’s clutch 3-pointer against No. 15 Gonzaga. “Now, you could say it was a scrimmage or exhibition. You say what you want. Could you have made that shot? ... He wasn’t afraid. He’s special.”So far in his preseason action Thompson’s shot-making and ball-handling abilities have been on full display.Thompson has been trusted as the main ball handler whenever fellow freshman and Naismith Player of the Year watch list member Jordan Smith Jr. is not on the court. This seems to be the role Thompson will play for the foreseeable future.Thompson’s path to the Hogs started with him announcing his commitment live on CBS Sports. Thompson chose Arkansas over Michigan, Vanderbilt and Baylor.Thompson was the No. 21-ranked player and No. 5 point guard in the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports.Thompson and fellow 17-year-old Caleb Ourigou quickly reclassified and joined the Hogs in late July before their trip to the Bahamas to play in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League.Thompson, as well as many of the other young players on the team, has had to learn and adapt quickly to a faster pace of basketball that is tough to replicate in a controlled environment.Thompson and company will need to continue to develop and learn if the Hogs want to make a real push for the title this season.Before the first exhibition game against Gonzaga only five Hogs had ever set foot on a college court in an official game. Only three of them (Cooper Bowser, Billy Richmond III and Jeremiah Wilkinson) had played significant minutes on a college roster before.The Hogs boast the eighth-youngest roster in the country and the youngest in all Power Four conferences.“We’ve got a lot of great guys, so just having fun, playing hard, communicating,” Thompson said before the Hogs’ first exhibition game. “Everything’s not going to be perfect. It’s our first game, so we’re just playing hard and if we play hard and they beat us, we know that we played our butts off.”Calipari trusted Thompson early, giving him some of the toughest defensive assignments and leaning on his judgment in late-game scenarios. Across six exhibitions Thompson averaged 21 minutes per game.Having a trusted security blanket on the bench can unlock another level for this team that can push Arkansas over the hump. In the six exhibition games Thompson turned the ball over only three times.Thompson’s ability to hold onto the ball, make smart decisions and contribute positively game in and game out will be crucial in seeing how much playing time he will get throughout the season.If Thompson is able to seize the moment and take command of Arkansas’ second unit, not only will he get the chance to show his talent, but the Hogs might have a chance to go very far in March this season.Thompson and the Hogs opened the season Tuesday with a 106-61 win over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Bud Walton Arena. The freshman finished with seven points and four assists through 19 minutes.Arkansas now travels to Washington, D.C., to face No. 9 Virginia on Sunday, Nov. 8, on ESPN.</div></body>

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Davion Thompson, Arkansas’ youngest player on the roster, stepped up in a big way in the Hogs’ six exhibition games. Across six preseason exhibitions Thompson averaged 11.5 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, shooting 40.7% from the field, 37.9% from three and 87.5% from the free throw line.

17-year-old Davion Thompson Looks to make an impact on a loaded Arkansas Roster

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Davion Thompson, Arkansas’ youngest player on the roster, stepped up in a big way in the Hogs’ six exhibition games. Across six presea

17-year-old Davion Thompson Looks to make an impact on a loaded Arkansas Roster

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