Veteran NBA analyst and former champion Kendrick Perkins has never been shy about standing on the table for a player he believes in. This week, he doubled down once again, this time responding on X to the news that freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr. secured his seventh Freshman of the Week honor, an all-time SEC record.
Darius Acuff Jr.’s NBA Draft Rise Fuels SEC Player of the Year Momentum
Perkins’ message was simple but powerful:
“SEC Player of the Year loading… see you guys on draft night.”
SEC Player Of the Year loading…. See you guys on Draft Night https://t.co/VZSOIG8igq
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 16, 2026
It was more than a congratulatory post, it was validation that he see's the talent and it needs more acknowledgement . Perkins has been one of Acuff’s most vocal supporters all season, riding the bandwagon from day one. From national broadcasts to social media, he has repeatedly called Acuff the best point guard in the country and projected him as a highly drafted prospect in the upcoming NBA Draft.
And it’s not just hype. The numbers back it up.
In SEC play, Acuff is averaging:
- 23.8 points per game
- 6.4 assists
- 2.7 rebounds
- 51% from the field
- 42% from three
- 83% from the free-throw line
While awards aren’t won strictly on stat lines, these figures illustrate something bigger, his ability to elevate under pressure. Conference play in the SEC is a different level of intensity, physicality, and spotlight. Acuff hasn’t just handled it, he’s thrived in it.
Each passing week strengthens his case for SEC Player of the Year. What separates him isn’t just production, but poise. He plays with a quiet confidence, the kind that doesn’t need theatrics. Teammates feed off it. Opponents feel it. And scouts notice it.
Meanwhile, the Arkansas Razorbacks are surging alongside their star guard. Ranked inside the top 20 nationally and sitting second in the conference standings at 9–3, Arkansas is firmly in the SEC title conversation. If this trajectory continues, they won’t just be battling for a conference championship, they’ll enter the national championship discussion as well.
If Acuff maintains this level of production and leadership, his draft stock will only continue to climb. “See you guys on draft night” felt like a prediction with words that had weight to it and a glimpse into the future of how high Perkins thinks Acuff could go.
The ice-in-his-veins freshman keeps stacking performances. The accolades keep coming. The team keeps winning.
And as Perkins suggested, the writing may already be on the wall.