Darius Acuff Jr., the Arkansas freshman, is drawing high praise and NBA comparisons. Oklahoma coach Porter Moser likened him to Derrick Rose and Allen Iverson. This comes after Acuff’s performance in the SEC Tournament.
Acuff’s Impact on Arkansas
Acuff Jr. scored 37 points, had five assists, and five rebounds in an 82-79 win over Oklahoma. He took 21 shots, making 11 of them. The win over Oklahoma advanced the Razorbacks to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. It also likely impacted Oklahoma’s bubble status.
The Arkansas team is currently ranked 15th in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. Acuff is averaging 22.7 points and 6.4 assists. He is a projected top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Coaches Praise Acuff’s Abilities
Porter Moser noted Acuff’s ability to score at all three levels. He also mentioned his ability to get to the rim with ease. Moser highlighted Acuff’s deep range and ability to create separation on pull-up shots. “He just has like that Derrick Rose, Allen Iverson speed — with power,” Moser said.
Texas coach Sean Miller also commented on Acuff last week. More SEC coaches are recognising Acuff’s talent. Acuff’s performance is gaining widespread appreciation.
SEC Tournament Update
Duke remains No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings for the 21st consecutive day. This follows their win over Clemson. Duke will now face Virginia in the ACC Tournament championship game.
Other power-conference title games include Arizona-Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. St. John’s will play UConn in the Big East Tournament.
Acuff’s performance is exceeding expectations. He is putting his team on his shoulders. He may take them further than their season and seed would suggest in the NCAA Tournament bracket.