(#3) Darius Acuff Jr.
2025-26 stats: 22.3 PPG (50.9 FG%, 44.3 3P%), 3.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The irony of Arkansas Razorbacks freshman Darius Acuff Jr. drawing so much praise as of late is that ESPN had him ranked as the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2025. In fact, 247 Sports listed him as the NCAA’s top incoming point guard as well, while On3/Rivals had him second. So, this idea that he’s come out of nowhere is inaccurate. He was right in front of people’s noses.
Pure Point Guard
As a scorer, Acuff’s shown himself to be adept whether he’s on or off the ball. When the rock is in his hands, he’s demonstrated a tight handle that complements his low stance and has the agility to get into the lane. However, he’s unpredictable in a good way, balancing pull-up jumpers with drives. Off-ball, he’s either spotting up or cutting, doing both well.
As a facilitator, Acuff is a big fan of the drive-and-kick. Yet, his penchant for drive-by deliveries belies an even more important skill; his ability to manipulate defenders. Because he plays at such an unhurried pace in the halfcourt, this helps him be one of the most efficient passers in the NCAA (3.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio).
Defensively, Acuff’s willingness to pick his man up fullcourt underscores his competitive nature. Yet, his best skill at that end is a byproduct of his intelligence. Averaging nearly one steal per game, he consistently jumps passing lanes, his positioning often pristine.
The biggest difference between him and Peterson is length and availability, as the 6-foot-3 Acuff leads the NCAA in games played (26) and minutes per game (34.6).
