Overlooked Razorback cracks Jon Rothstein’s Wooden Award Watch List

When college basketball insider Jon Rothstein released his latest Wooden Award watch list, the headliners were exactly who fans expected: Cameron Boozer at Duke, Darryn Peterson at Kansas, AJ Dybantsa at BYU, along with highly talented players around the country.

Blue-chip stars, future pros, and names that have lived in preseason hype cycles for years.

Darius Acuff Jr. Is a Rising Force the College Basketball World Can’t Ignore

But tucked among those familiar faces was a newer name, one that’s starting to feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitability. Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. is officially on the national radar, and if you haven’t been paying attention yet, now’s the time to start.

Acuff didn’t explode onto the scene with one viral performance or a single marquee moment. Instead, he’s been methodically stacking high-level performances since opening night. What’s changed recently is how loud those performances have become, especially in SEC play, where his game has taken another leap.

Against conference competition, Acuff is averaging 21.5 points and 6.3 assists per game, while shooting a blistering 93.5% from the free-throw line. When games tighten late, Arkansas isn’t guessing who should have the ball. Acuff has been calm, confident, and clinical, icing wins at the stripe and controlling the pace when it matters most.

And this isn’t empty production.

Acuff’s efficiency is what separates him from the typical high-usage freshman guard. On the season, he’s shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three, all while committing just 2.2 turnovers per game as the Razorbacks’ primary ball handler. That combination of volume, efficiency, and ball security, is almost unheard of for a first-year player, let alone one tasked with running an offense in the SEC.

This isn’t backyard, street-ball stat padding. It’s purposeful, winning basketball.

Limiting turnovers while shouldering that much offensive responsibility is only one piece of what Acuff brings to the table. His decision-making, shot selection, and ability to elevate teammates have been just as impressive as the raw numbers. Every week, his command of the game looks a little sharper, a little more polished, and a lot more veteran than freshman.

As the attention ramps up, so do the accolades. SEC Freshman of the Week honors. Growing chatter about SEC Player of the Year consideration. And now, Wooden Award watch lists starting to include his name alongside the sport’s most celebrated stars.

The next phase of Acuff’s season will be fascinating. The transition from hunter to hunted is where many young players stumble. Scouting reports tighten. Defenses load up. Expectations rise.

So far, none of it has rattled him.

Fortunately for Arkansas, head coach John Calipari has seen this story before. He’s guided plenty of young stars through the exact moment Acuff is entering now, and he understands what it takes to keep them grounded while continuing to grow.

If Acuff’s trajectory is any indication, the spotlight won’t slow him down, it’ll sharpen him.

Jon Rothstein’s watch list may have introduced Darius Acuff Jr. to a broader audience, but by season’s end, his name may feel just as inevitable as the ones that led it.