Arkansas Hides Potential Future Backcourt Duo in Plain Sight

Freshmen centers Elmir Džafić and Paulo Semedo have been developing behind the scenes, but injuries have slowed their progress.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:36pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the powerful movements and energy of two tall basketball players, their forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes.The raw potential of Arkansas' hidden big men giants is captured in a cubist, geometric style.Fayetteville Today

Arkansas basketball fans have been unaware of the presence of two massive 7-foot centers, Elmir Džafić and Paulo Semedo, who have been quietly developing on the Razorbacks' bench. Džafić, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Semedo, from Angola, arrived late last summer and have faced setbacks due to injuries, preventing them from fully integrating into the team. However, the coaching staff remains hopeful that with continued development, the two young big men can eventually become impact players for the Razorbacks.

Why it matters

The addition of Džafić and Semedo could provide a significant boost to Arkansas' frontcourt in the coming seasons, as the team looks to build on its recent success. Their size and potential could help the Razorbacks compete with the elite big men found in the SEC. However, the delays in their development due to injuries have raised questions about whether they will be able to adapt to the fast-paced, above-the-rim style of play preferred by head coach Eric Musselman.

The details

Džafić, a 7-foot, 285-pound center, and Semedo, a 7-foot-1 forward, both joined the Razorbacks last summer, but their late arrivals and subsequent injuries prevented them from fully integrating into the team. Džafić saw limited playing time early in the season, while Semedo's development was hindered by injuries to the players he was expected to back up. With the team dealing with numerous injuries, Musselman chose to limit scrimmage time in practice, further slowing Semedo's progress.

  • Džafić arrived in late August, just as the school year was starting.
  • Semedo joined the team in July, but missed two months due to an arm injury.
  • By the end of the season, Semedo's development had shifted to individual workouts with assistant coaches.

The players

Elmir Džafić

A 7-foot, 285-pound center from Bosnia and Herzegovina who has a massive frame and impressive strength, but is still developing his skills to compete at the SEC level.

Paulo Semedo

A 7-foot-1 forward from Angola who was a top-50 recruit and the sixth-ranked center in the country, but has faced setbacks in his development due to injuries and the team's limited practice time.

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What they’re saying

“Paulo is a guy that's got a lot of talent. He's 7-foot. He's super long arms. He jumps pretty well, he runs pretty good, and he's he's got potential.”

— Matt Zimmerman, Arkansas basketball radio co-host

“Džafić got here he was like 286 pounds. That's a big man, and he's still so strong and thick, he just destroys the weight room when he's in there. He is a he's a physical beast.”

— Matt Zimmerman, Arkansas basketball radio co-host

What’s next

The coaching staff will continue to work with Džafić and Semedo to develop their skills and adapt to the fast-paced style of play in the SEC. If they can stay healthy and make progress, they could provide a significant boost to Arkansas' frontcourt in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

The presence of Džafić and Semedo, two promising young big men, has flown under the radar for Arkansas fans, but their development could be crucial for the Razorbacks' future success. While injuries have slowed their progress, the coaching staff remains optimistic that with continued work, they can become impact players and help Arkansas compete with the elite teams in the SEC.