Darius Acuff Jr. has been turning heads all season. But when Allen Iverson himself stops to take notice, the conversation shifts to a different level entirely. The Arkansas freshman has become one of the most talked-about players in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and now he has one of basketball’s most iconic names in his corner.
Allen Iverson Endorses Darius Acuff Jr. During March Madness Run
Iverson took to Instagram after watching Acuff’s tournament run, calling the Arkansas guard “the next HIM.” It was a stamp of approval that carries particular weight, given that the comparison to Iverson has been following Acuff since before he ever stepped on a college court.
The two share an unmistakable stylistic DNA, with both known for their explosive speed, fearless shot-taking, and an uncanny ability to impose their will on a game regardless of size or circumstance.
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The endorsement didn’t come out of nowhere. Acuff posted 24 points and 7 assists in a first-round 97-78 demolition of Hawai’i, then followed it up with 36 points and 6 assists in the Razorbacks’ 94-88 second-round win over High Point.
He has now scored 24 or more points in six straight games, crossing the 30-point mark three times in that stretch. He is not just running hot; he has been consistently dominant for over a month.
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The Iverson connection runs deeper than just playing style. Acuff signed with Reebok ahead of his freshman season, debuting at the iconic Iverson Classic in what felt like a deliberate passing of a torch. Iverson welcomed him into the Reebok family personally at the time, saying his “energy, ambition, and drive for success is exactly what Reebok Basketball stands for.”
The Instagram post calling him “the next HIM” is simply the latest chapter in a relationship that has been building for over a year.
And it wasn’t just AI who sang his praises. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had already been making the Iverson comparison publicly, especially around the SEC tournament.
He said, “Acuff is so damn special. Reminds me of Iverson. Whatever it takes, he can do it to get the job done.”
That SEC run included a 37-point, 5-assist, 5-rebound performance against Oklahoma in the quarterfinals, a 24-point, 7-assist showing in overtime against Ole Miss in the semis, and a 30-point, 11-assist double-double in the championship win over Vanderbilt, which was Arkansas’ first SEC title since 2000.
Acuff entered the season already viewed as a lottery pick in what is widely considered one of the deepest draft classes in years. With AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson occupying the top tier of the conversation, Acuff has used the tournament to firmly establish himself as the most compelling mid-to-late lottery prospect in the field.
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At 6-foot-3, he is not the prototypical modern NBA guard in terms of size, much like Iverson, but his production at every level of competition has made that a non-issue.
Arkansas looks like a genuine threat out of the West Region, and as long as Acuff keeps playing the way he has, the Razorbacks will be a difficult out for anyone.
For Acuff personally, every game is another opportunity to build a legacy that is already drawing comparisons from the man whose name is synonymous with the kind of player he is becoming.
