Nolan Richardson praises Arkansas star Darius Acuff after SEC Tournament win

The Razorbacks coaching great says he's 'never seen anything like' the superstar freshman ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:51am

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Darius Acuff led Arkansas to its first SEC Tournament championship in 26 years, scoring 37, 24 and 30 points in the three games. Razorbacks coaching great Nolan Richardson offered a glowing review of Acuff, saying 'I never seen anything like him' and that the freshman 'was phenomenal' in the tournament. Acuff is averaging 22.9 points per game this season and is expected to be a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Why it matters

Acuff's dominant performance in the SEC Tournament has boosted his NBA draft stock, with some experts believing he could be a top-five pick or even the No. 1 overall selection. His scoring ability and command of the Razorbacks' offense are expected to translate well to the professional level.

The details

In three SEC Tournament games, Acuff scored 37, 24 and 30 points, including an 11-assist performance in the championship win over Vanderbilt. On the season, he's averaging 22.9 points per game, good for seventh in the country. Acuff has drawn comparisons to NBA stars Chris Paul and Stephon Marbury, and his recent performances have only strengthened his draft stock.

  • Acuff led Arkansas to its first SEC Tournament championship in 26 years this past week in Nashville.
  • Arkansas will travel to Portland to take on Hawaii in their opening contest of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The players

Darius Acuff

The reigning SEC Player of the Year and a superstar freshman for the Arkansas Razorbacks, who is expected to be a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Nolan Richardson

A coaching great for the Arkansas Razorbacks, who offered a glowing review of Acuff's performance in the SEC Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I never seen anything like him. He was phenomenal. He seemed like he's been here before, things come to him so easy. He's just a wonderful guy that knows how to play the game. He was gifted with a gift of knowing where the ball is … how hard to shoot, how high to get up with it. I mean, all those things, the good Lord blessed him very well.”

— Nolan Richardson, Razorbacks coaching great

What’s next

Arkansas and Hawaii will tip off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Thursday. The West Region matchup will air live on TBS.

The takeaway

Darius Acuff's dominant performance in the SEC Tournament has cemented his status as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, with his scoring ability and playmaking skills expected to translate well to the professional level. The Razorbacks will look to Acuff to lead them on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.