Thanks to his outstanding performance for Arkansas, Darius Acuff Jr.’s stock is rising. His recent play has even earned him a comparison to Allen Iverson, courtesy of Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. Smith Likens Darius Acuff Jr. to NBA Legend Allen Iverson
The 2026 NBA draft class is already being considered one of the most loaded talent pools. Players such as AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson are viewed as the top three prospects, but younger players projected in the mid-to-late lottery are also drawing attention.
One of those players is Acuff, a freshman guard for Arkansas. He was already regarded as a lottery pick, but his stock may have risen further after leading his team in a crucial game.
During the SEC quarterfinals against the Oklahoma Sooners, Acuff recorded 37 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. That performance helped the Razorbacks secure an 82-79 win and a spot in the SEC semifinals.
Acuff earned praise for that showing, including from Smith, who compared him to one of basketball’s greats.
“Acuff is so damn special. He’s up there for sure. Reminds me of Iverson. Whatever it takes, he can do it to get the job done. But here’s the real deal: @RazorbackMBB is LOADED. [Trevon] Brazile. [D.J.] Wagner off the bench. [Billy] Richmond III. Team to watch in the Tourney.”
Acuff is so damn special. He’s up there for sure. Reminds me of Iverson. Whatever it takes, he can do it to get the job done. But here’s the real deal: @RazorbackMBB is LOADED. Brazil. Wagner off the bench. Richmond III. Team to watch in the Tourney. https://t.co/SKhnSSzHL6
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 15, 2026
Acuff’s strong play continued after the quarterfinals. In the semifinal against Ole Miss, he posted 24 points, 5Â rebounds, and 7 assists. He also delivered in overtime, scoring 5 points to secure a 93-90 win.
In the conference championship against Vanderbilt, he finished with 30 points and 11 assists. That double-double helped Arkansas to an 86-75 victory and its first SEC title since 2000.
Darius Acuff in the SEC title game:
30 PTS | 5-8 3PT | 11 AST | 37 MINS
best player in the country? pic.twitter.com/diPDG6BaKo
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 15, 2026
While Acuff appears headed to the NBA as a highly coveted lottery pick, his college career is not finished. After winning the SEC championship, Arkansas is now bound for March Madness.
This will be another opportunity for Acuff to continue building his college legacy and strengthen his draft position in the upcoming NBA Draft.
