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Reebok Signs Arkansas Star Darius Acuff Jr. to First Signature Shoe for an Active NCAA Men’s Player

The deal signals a new level of NIL-era marketing power for top college players.

Overview

  • Reebok confirmed the signature shoe Tuesday through head of basketball Jide Osifeso, making Acuff the first active NCAA men's player with a major U.S. brand signature.
  • The freshman led the SEC in points and assists and swept Player and Freshman of the Year honors, then scored 60 points across two NCAA Tournament games to send Arkansas to the Sweet 16.
  • Reebok identifies him as its first men's signature athlete since John Wall, and Allen Iverson has publicly lauded Acuff as “the next HIM.”
  • Multiple outlets report the shoe is planned to debut when he turns pro, a timeline that fits widespread projections of him as a lottery pick, while financial terms remain undisclosed.
  • The agreement underscores how NIL rules let athletes cut personal deals even when their schools are tied to rival brands, as Acuff’s Reebok pact exists alongside Arkansas’s Nike partnership.