Darius Acuff Jr. wins prestigious player of the year award
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Darius Acuff Jr. did a lot of breathtaking things on the court during a remarkable freshman season at Arkansas.
The 6-foot-3 guard sensation continued to reap the rewards for that brilliance on Saturday afternoon, when he was honored with the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented annually to the country’s top point guard. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame hands out the award, and Acuff was a worth recipient after becoming the only player in college basketball this season to average at least 20 points and 6 assists per game.
To be exact, the Detroit native arrived in SEC country last fall and put up 23.5 points, 6.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest during a magical season. He was the engine in John Calipari’s high-octane offense, helping lead the Razorbacks to the SEC Tournament title and a berth in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Acuff also registered impressive shooting percentages, posting a 48.4% clip from the field and a 44% mark from 3-point range. He shot 80.9% from the free throw line, too, and Acuff was durable in his first season of college basketball, playing 35.1 minutes per game. He played in 36 of Arkansas’ 37 games this season.
His proud coach provided some immediate congratulations on Saturday, with Calipari taking to his social media account and posting this message:
“Congratulations to Darius on being awarded the Bob Cousy award. He is the second point guard that played for me to win the award. Tyler Ulis who is on our staff was the first that I coached to win the award!”
Acuff just completed his freshman season at Arkansas, but he’s already being touted as a big-time prospect at the next level. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Acuff’s odds to be taken in the top 10 of the upcoming NBA Draft:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
