Pigs Get Promise of 5-Star PG | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Five-star point guard Darius Acuff verbally stated Friday that he would rather attend the University of Arkansas than Kansas, Michigan and a host of other schools. He is the Razorbacks’ first commitment for the Class of 2025.

He made an official visit to Fayetteville in May, marking his second time with Arkansas Coach John Calipari. He visited Calipari in October when he was Kentucky’s coach.

Acuff, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, also took official visits to Kansas and Michigan last fall before Juwan Howard was fired as coach of the Wolverines.

Acuff, a Detroit native, averaged 23.9 points, 4 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Michigan-based The Family program on the EYBL circuit this spring.

Family coach Eric Evans previously said Acuff is a combination of excellent character and an excellent player.

“I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a great kid,” Evans said. “His talent is obviously one of the best in the country, but as a kid he’s one of the best guys around. Great spirit, always smiling (and) joking around. Just wants to get better all the time. That’s his goal, always has been. He’s a workaholic, always in the gym.”

Acuff was selected to the first team of The Circuit Nike EYBL Session I in the EYBL league in Memphis after averaging 21 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists over the weekend of April 26-28.

ESPN rates him as a 5-star recruit, the No. 2 point guard and the No. 9 overall prospect for the 2025 class. ESPN’s national recruiting director Paul Biancardi analyzed Acuff’s play.

“Acuff is a special talent,” Biancardi said. “His skill level and feel for the game continues to grow. He has an uncanny sense for unbalancing defenders and getting into the lane to score or find an open teammate. He has great passing vision when he has his head up. He’s been facilitating a lot better lately.

“His drive game is strong with both hands and (he) generally has confidence and control with the ball. His special skill is the ability to make tough shots or turn a broken play into a scoring play.”

Biancardi said Acuff’s game is getting worse.

“When he moves the ball as a decision maker, he becomes even more dangerous,” Biancardi said. “He doesn’t have to make the home run pass. When he trusts the pass, he comes back to a more favorable spot (and) he becomes harder to defend.”

Calipari has coached 61 players selected in the NBA Draft during his 31-year college coaching career, with 47 selected during his 14 years at Kentucky. The 47 draft picks he made while coaching the Wildcats are 12 more than Duke, the next closest school.

Acuff admires Calipari as a person and his ability to produce top talent.

“He said he’s one of the guys he’d like to play for … at the top of his list,” Evans said. “(He talks about) Cal being a great coach and a great person. What he does, I think, speaks for itself. He talks about taking guys to the next level. That’s where he wants to be. Cal is someone he’s very open about and someone who’s at the top of his list.”