Arkansas Basketball's Darius Acuff Earns National Accolades

The star guard is poised for an even bigger postseason after leading the SEC in scoring and assists.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. was named both the SEC Player and Freshman of the Year after averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game in the regular season. Acuff's 3.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was also tops in the conference. Despite the national recognition, Arkansas coach John Calipari believes Acuff has even more potential to unlock as the Razorbacks prepare for the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

Why it matters

Acuff's breakout season has established him as one of the top point guards in college basketball, drawing comparisons to NBA great Chris Paul. His ability to both score and distribute makes him a rare talent, and his continued development could be the key to Arkansas making a deep postseason run.

The details

Acuff was a 5-star recruit who was expected to be a one-and-done NBA prospect, and he has lived up to the hype in his freshman season. He led the SEC in both scoring and assists, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since LSU's Pete Maravich in the late 1960s. Acuff's impressive stats, including a 3.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, have earned him national recognition as a top-5 finalist for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's best point guard.

  • Acuff was named SEC Player and Freshman of the Year on Monday and Tuesday.
  • He was named a top-5 finalist for the Bob Cousy Award on Monday.
  • The Razorbacks are the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament and will play their first game on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

A 5-star freshman guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks who led the SEC in scoring (22.2 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg) during the regular season.

John Calipari

The head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, who has a long history of developing elite guard talent during his 34-year college coaching career.

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What they’re saying

“This kid is like Chris Paul. That's how good this kid is. He's very talented.”

— Dennis Gates, Missouri Head Coach

“I've never seen a point guard better. I just have never been on a court where one player at that position is any better than he is. 'Greatness' is how I would describe his game.”

— Sean Miller, Texas Head Coach

What’s next

The Razorbacks are projected to be a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Acuff's continued development could be the key to the team making a deep postseason run. Arkansas coach John Calipari has said he is not satisfied with Acuff's performance so far and believes the star guard has even more potential to unlock.

The takeaway

Darius Acuff's breakout freshman season has established him as one of the premier point guards in college basketball, drawing comparisons to NBA greats. His ability to both score and distribute the ball at a high level makes him a rare talent, and his continued growth could be the difference-maker for an Arkansas team poised for a deep March Madness run.