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Darius Acuff Jr. Sweeps SEC Honors and Is Cleared to Play in SEC Tournament Quarterfinal

The Arkansas freshman led the league in both scoring and assists, a first since Pete Maravich, positioning the No. 3 seed Razorbacks for a postseason run.

Jan 3, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guards Meleek Thomas (1) and Darius Acuff Jr (5) talk to head coach John Calipari during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Both SEC coaches and the Associated Press named Acuff the conference’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
  • After missing the regular-season finale to rest an ankle, he is expected to play Friday per CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, with John Calipari saying he will go if there are no practice setbacks.
  • Acuff averaged 22.2 points and 6.4 assists, leading the SEC in both categories and joining Pete Maravich as the only players to accomplish that feat.
  • Arkansas finished 23-8 overall and 13-5 in league play to earn the No. 3 seed and a double-bye in Nashville, with a quarterfinal against Texas A&M, Oklahoma, or South Carolina on March 13.
  • His season featured a 49-point double-overtime outing at Alabama and a 28-point, 13-assist performance vs. Texas, and he is widely projected as a 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick.