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Darius Acuff Jr.
2025–26 Arkansas season averages
Draft Outlook
Acuff entered the season as a lottery talent, but the Arkansas year pushed him into a bigger conversation. Teams care most about guards who can both score and run offense, and Acuff looked like one of those. He still shares the top of the board with names like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, but he gave himself a real case to climb.
Biography and Background
Acuff is from Detroit and built his reputation first at Cass Tech, then at IMG Academy, where the scoring talent held up against elite competition. By the time he reached Arkansas, he was already viewed as one of the top point guards in the 2025 class.
He also came in with USA Basketball credibility after winning MVP at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup. That didn’t make him a finished product, but it did tell teams this wasn’t a late surprise.
College Career and Production
Acuff’s freshman year at Arkansas was one of the most productive guard seasons in the country. He averaged more than 22 points and 6 assists, won SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year, and quickly became the center of Arkansas’ offense.
The season had huge moments too, especially the 49-point double-overtime game against Alabama. That mix of scoring and offensive control is why he stayed in the top-tier guard conversation all year.
Strengths
Acuff’s biggest strength is shot creation. He has an advanced handle, can change direction quickly, and is comfortable creating from the perimeter or getting downhill.
The pull-up shooting and passing make the rest of the profile work. He can score from mid-range or three, and when defenses load up on him, he can still find the next play.
Concerns and Development Areas
The main questions are on defense and shot discipline. At 6’2”, he’ll have to prove he can hold up against bigger guards, and the high-usage style can drift into forced shots or ambitious passes.
None of that changes the upside. It just shapes how clean the projection feels.
2026 NCAA Tournament
Acuff was excellent in March. He opened with 24 points and 7 assists against Hawaii, then followed it with 36 points and 6 assists against High Point in the kind of game Arkansas probably loses without him.
Arizona ended the run in the Sweet 16, but Acuff still scored 28 and kept the Razorbacks alive for stretches. That is the kind of tournament sample that helps a guard rather than hurts him.
Related Tools
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- Prospect Ranking Methodology: how TankOdds weights tools, production and fit in its draft rankings.
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By: Oren Fugon
Last updated: May 14, 2026
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