Arkansas basketball’s Darius Acuff Jr. isn’t just making waves as one of the SEC’s top freshmen, he’s quietly staking a claim as one of the conference’s best overall players. After earning his third SEC Freshman of the Week honor, Acuff is proving that his impact goes well beyond typical freshman numbers.
Darius Acuff's Numbers That Demand Attention
The stats back up Acuff’s rising profile. While he may not lead the SEC in any single category, he ranks near the top across several key metrics:
- Points per game: 18.9 (4th in the SEC)
- Assists per game: 6.2 (2nd)
- Three-pointers made per game: 2.3 (10th)
- Field goals made per game: 6.8 (tied for 2nd)
- Field goal percentage: 48.8% (8th among SEC guards)
This combination of scoring, playmaking, and efficiency makes Acuff a multifaceted threat, the kind of player who can change the course of a game on both ends of the court.
Acuff’s performance isn’t just personal stats; it’s translating into team success. The Razorbacks are 9-3 and ranked as high as 18th nationally, making them the third-highest ranked SEC team. His ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game gives Arkansas a versatile offensive weapon and a leader on the floor despite his age.
SEC Player of the Year Consideration
With this level of production and influence, Acuff deserves to be in the conversation for SEC Player of the Year alongside names like LaBaron Philon (Alabama), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee), and Thomas Haugh (Florida). While he’s just breaking into the national spotlight, SEC coaches have long recognized his potential and are already wary of what he can do.
Acuff’s rapid rise is also a testament to the coaching at Arkansas under Coach Calipari, who has a proven history of developing talent into stars at Memphis, Kentucky, and now Arkansas. Acuff has all the tools to join that lineage, showing remarkable growth in a short span of time. If all shooting percentages are removed, and the data is sliced to focus on just points per game, assists per game and assist/turnover ratio, Acuff has been Calipari’s most impactful freshman by a wide margin. And he’s doing it all while carrying a heavy offensive burden, creating nearly50% of Arkansas’ offense through 12 games.
If Acuff continues on this trajectory, the end of the season could be just the beginning. His combination of scoring, playmaking, and leadership has the potential to elevate both his own profile and Arkansas basketball’s standing in the SEC and nationally. For fans and opponents alike, Darius Acuff Jr. is a name to watch, one whose rise might define the Razorbacks’ 2025-26 campaign.