Darius Acuff Jr. Named Midseason Third-Team All-American - and He’s Just Getting Started
FAYETTEVILLE - Darius Acuff Jr. isn’t just making noise in Fayetteville - he’s making a name for himself on the national stage. The Arkansas freshman guard was named to the Midseason All-American Third Team by College Hoops Today, and if his play so far is any indication, this might just be the beginning.
Let’s start with the numbers, because they speak volumes. Acuff is averaging 18.9 points and 6.2 assists per game, shooting a blistering 48.8% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc.
For any player, those numbers are impressive. For a freshman?
That’s elite territory.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting: Acuff’s game elevates when the lights shine brightest. In five matchups against top-25 opponents, he’s upped his averages to 20.2 points and 7.2 assists per game. That’s not just rising to the occasion - that’s owning it.
Among NCAA freshmen, Acuff ranks second in assists per game and fifth in scoring. Zoom out to the national landscape, and he’s 20th overall in assists per game - a remarkable stat for a first-year player navigating the grind of high-major college basketball. His assist-to-turnover ratio (3.08) ranks fourth among freshmen and 49th nationally, showing not just playmaking ability but maturity and control with the ball.
And if you’re looking for efficiency, he’s got that too. Among freshmen who’ve knocked down at least 25 threes this season, Acuff ranks sixth in 3-point percentage at 48.3%.
Only five freshmen nationwide - including Acuff - are shooting at least 45% from the field and 43% from deep. That’s the kind of shooting profile that stretches defenses and opens up the floor for everyone else.
He’s not alone in the freshman spotlight. Other first-year standouts named to the midseason All-American teams include Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa on the first team, and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson on the second team. But Acuff’s résumé stacks up with any of them - and he’s doing it in the SEC, one of the most physical and competitive leagues in the country.
His most recent performance? A statement game.
Acuff dropped 27 points and dished out seven assists against No. 8 Houston - the highest-scoring game by a Razorback this season.
It was his third straight 20-point outing and his seventh such game of the year. He’s also the only Arkansas player to score in double figures in all 12 games this season, a model of consistency on a team still finding its identity.
And the playmaking hasn’t slowed down. Acuff has recorded seven or more assists in five straight games and at least five in nine of Arkansas’s 12 contests. That’s the kind of production you expect from a seasoned point guard, not someone just months removed from high school gyms.
The SEC has taken notice, too. Acuff has already earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice, and he entered the season with a stack of preseason accolades - all of which he’s living up to.
It’s not just the stats or the accolades. It’s the way Acuff plays - with poise, confidence, and a gear that few freshmen have. He’s not just one of the best young guards in the country; he’s one of the best guards, period.
Arkansas has a special one on its hands. And the rest of the college basketball world is starting to realize it.