Darius Acuff Jr. is a 19-year-old basketball player from Detroit, Michigan, currently playing his freshman season at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach John Calipari. He was born on November 16, 2006, and is widely considered one of the best young point guards in college basketball.
He was the No. 1 ranked point guard in the 2025 high school recruiting class, a McDonald’s All-American, and won the 2025 Allen Iverson National Player of the Year award. Before Arkansas, he played at Detroit’s Cass Technical High School and IMG Academy in Florida.
What makes him different from other elite recruits is simple: he’s been playing basketball against kids five years older than him since he was seven years old. His father trained him from age three, and everyone in his family played basketball at a high level. The game is in his blood.
His Father and Basketball Family
Coming out of Detroit, Michigan, Darius comes from a basketball family. His dad, Darius Acuff Sr., and his uncles were all immensely talented hoopers.
His father, Darius Sr., and three of his uncles were all standout players in the area. In Detroit, that reputation matters. This is a city that produces serious basketball talent, and the Acuff name was already known before Darius Jr. even picked up a ball.
Darius Acuff Jr. began training at a very young age (reportedly at three years of age). As his father imparted wisdom and continued to train him, Acuff Jr. was playing 12U basketball at the ripe old age of seven!
Most seven-year-olds are learning how to dribble without looking at the ball. He was running actual offense against 12-year-olds. His father put him in situations where he had no choice but to get better, and it worked.
His Cousin Tyson Acuff
Verified sources confirm that Tyson Acuff and Darius Acuff Jr. are indeed cousins. Darius Jr., born in 2006, is the son of Darius Acuff Sr., making Tyson his first cousin.
His cousin, Tyson, also lit up Michigan basketball at Cass Tech, before he committed to Eastern Michigan. After averaging over 21 points per game at Eastern, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Rutgers last August.
The cousins grew up playing together, training together, and pushing each other. When Darius Jr. was named a Naismith High School Player of the Year finalist in 2025.
When asked who the best athlete in the family is, Darius Jr. responded: “Me, for sure! We all do something different: my dad has trained Tyson and I during our whole lives so he must have been pretty good back in the day.”
High School Career at Cass Tech
Acuff was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and first attended Cass Technical High School. As a freshman, he was a 2022 Associated Press (AP) all-state honorable mention.
Making all-state as a freshman meant he was already playing varsity-level basketball at 14 years old. His sophomore year was even better.
As a sophomore, he averaged 21.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, leading Cass Tech to a state championship. In 2023, he earned AP first-team all-state recognition and was the first sophomore to ever be named Mr. PSL for his play in the Detroit Public School League.
Mr. PSL is the award for the best player in Detroit’s Public School League. No sophomore had ever won it before him. That’s a league that’s produced NBA players for decades, and he won it at 16 years old.
As a sophomore, named the 2023 MaxPreps Michigan High School Basketball Player of the Year and second team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America.
Moving to IMG Academy
Acuff transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida after his sophomore year.
Some people in Detroit didn’t understand why he left after winning a state championship. But IMG Academy is where the best high school players in the country go to prepare for college and the NBA.
“I definitely feel good here,” Acuff said. “IMG has been so good since I came here, everybody and the team. Everything is different, with it being a big campus and being away from your people.”
As a junior, averaged 20.4 points and 5.5 assists per game for IMG Academy, helping the Ascenders post a 20-9 record and rank sixth in the final MaxPreps poll.
And despite his current links to the South, attending high school in Florida and committing into the SEC, Acuff still knows his basketball roots lie in Detroit. “People understand why I left,” Acuff said. “So I always feel that love and support.”
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USA Basketball and International Success
Acuff played for the United States under-18 basketball team at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup.
2024 FIBA Men’s U18 AmeriCup: Tournament MVP and named to the All-Star Five … Led the USA to a gold medal … Averaged 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists … In the championship game against Argentina, scored 26 points, had nine assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
Winning Tournament MVP while leading Team USA to gold proved he could dominate on the international stage against the best young players in the Western Hemisphere.
Senior Year Awards
2025 Allen Iverson National Player of the Year • 2025 EYBL Scholastic Player of the Year • 2025 McDonald’s All-American • 2025 Jordan Brand Classic • 2025 USA Nike Hoop Summit team
The Allen Iverson Award goes to the best high school basketball player in the country. Winning that honor put him in company with players like Cooper Flagg and other recent elite recruits.
2025 Iverson Classic All-American Game (MVP)
He didn’t just participate in all-star games—he dominated them, winning MVP at the Iverson Classic.
Height and Physical Profile
He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He’s a solid size for a college point guard, though he’ll continue adding strength as he faces SEC competition.
Firstly, he’s cut-up and powerful with long arms (a +4.5 inch wingspan). So, when he drops his body to attack, he can absorb contact without getting pushed off his line, whether that be in the open floor or half-court.
That wingspan—4.5 inches longer than his height—gives him advantages on defense and helps him finish at the rim despite not being the tallest guard.
Playing Style and Skills
Acuff is most effective when he’s making those around him better and asserting himself as efficiently as possible. He has good vision and is a talented passer, but like many young scoring lead guards, he can sometimes dominate the ball and settle for unnecessarily tough shots.
That’s a fair scouting report from 247Sports. He has tremendous talent with areas to improve, which is normal for any freshman regardless of how dominant they were in high school.
During the 2023-2024 season, Darius led the EYBL Scholastic tournament (12 games) with 21.4 PPG.
The Nike EYBL is where the best high school players in the country compete. Leading that circuit in scoring meant he was outperforming other five-star recruits consistently.
Choosing Arkansas and John Calipari
He is a consensus five-star recruit in the 2025 class. Acuff committed to play college basketball for John Calipari and Arkansas, choosing from a final list that also included Kansas and Michigan.
A large part of the decision to commit to the Razorbacks program is head coach John Calipari, who is in his first season at Arkansas after spending over a decade at the University of Kentucky.
Calipari has a long history of developing point guards who go to the NBA—John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Maxey, and others. That reputation influenced Acuff’s decision.
According to his official Arkansas profile at https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/darius-acuff-jr/, he is the third-highest rated recruit in school history.
Freshman Season at Arkansas
Darius Acuff Jr. has been one of the better freshman prospects within this entire class.
His freshman season in 2025-26 has shown both promise and the typical adjustment period for elite recruits. It’s funny to think about now, but there were a lot of concerns regarding Darius Acuff Jr. and how he would translate at Arkansas. While he was obviously a talented player in high school, there were concerns across a number of areas within his game. One of the areas of concern was his three-point shooting. In his last season at IMG Academy, Acuff shot under 32% from deep on 8.2 attempts per game.
However, early season reports suggest he’s improved his shooting and is adjusting to SEC competition better than skeptics expected.
Personal Life
Darius Acuff Jr. keeps his personal life private. At 19 years old, his focus is on basketball and his freshman season at Arkansas.
He is not publicly known to be in a relationship. Details about his romantic life have not been shared through verified sources.
Regarding religion, Acuff has not publicly discussed spiritual or religious beliefs in verified interviews. This aspect remains private.
Net Worth and NIL Deals
As a college freshman, Darius Acuff Jr.’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. However, as one of the top recruits in his class, he benefits from NCAA NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules that allow college athletes to earn money through endorsements.
Reports suggest top recruits at major programs can earn six-figure NIL deals annually. Given his profile as the No. 1 point guard playing for John Calipari at Arkansas, his NIL valuation likely falls in this range, though exact figures are not disclosed.
His income sources include NIL endorsement deals, social media sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Unlike professional athletes, college players don’t receive salaries from universities beyond scholarships.
All net worth figures for college athletes are estimates, not confirmed disclosures. His actual financial situation depends on private factors including NIL deal values and personal expenses.
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