SPRINGFIELD ― For Arkansas commit Darius Acuff Jr., the decision to play under coach John Calipari was driven by his relationship with the former Kentucky head coach.
“Our relationship was big, it wasn’t really (anything) to do with basketball,” Acuff said. “I know how (Calipari) is as a coach. (I’ve) been watching since I was a kid, seeing all the guards get into the (NBA) so for me it was really (because) I had the best relationship out of all the coaches with him, that stood out the most to me.”
IMG Academy boys basketball player Darius Acuff drives against Wasatch Academy.Peyton Doyle
The No. 7 ranked player in the Class of 2025 competed at the 2025 Hoophall Classic in Springfield on Friday as IMG Academy (FL) narrowly fell to Wasatch Academy (UT), 59-58.
Acuff Jr. had a team-high 18 points and seven assists for IMG Academy, but a cold shooting night dampened his strong performance.
“This was probably his worst offensive game since his junior year,” IMG Academy coach Sean McAloo said. “He’s had a hell of a year, I can’t think the last time he has gone 0-8 from three, but just a good point guard, knows how to get guys shots… He’s got a clutch gene inside of him, just missed a couple today that would have probably closed it out.
“Tough kid, offensively extremely talented… He’s taken a monument jump in terms of just growth, maturity, strength, nutrition (and) mental. It’s hard to play at this level when you come in at 16 years old. Last year, he had a good year, but it wasn’t where he needed to be as far as everything else that a point guard does.”
Detroit Cass Tech’s Darius Acuff (5) moves the ball as Detroit Cass Tech faces Muskegon for the Division 1 basketball state final at MSU’s Breslin Center in East Lansing on Saturday, March 25, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com
Born and raised in Detroit, Acuff Jr. transferred to IMG Academy from Case Technical (MI) after his sophomore year. Growing up, he witnessed a slew of guards who played under the former UMass coach enter and excel in the NBA, including Derrick Rose, John Wall and De’Aron Fox.
“But mainly for me, I watched Tyler Ulis a lot,” Acuff Jr. said. “I feel like (if) he was my height, a little taller, he would have been a problem (in the NBA). He was already a problem (at Kentucky)… I feel like he just ran the offense too well and I feel like we played a little similar.”
Acuff Jr. will be sharing the backcourt at Arkansas with another top-ranked guard from this class, No. 9 ranked Meleek Thomas of Overtime Elite.
“I think we’ll be good, we got good size, I feel like we built for it, it’s why we (committed) there,” Acuff Jr. said. “Just go in there, prove people wrong and win some games.”
