Recently, NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek shared a moment with Arkansas commit Darius Acuff on X, capturing a moment from the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, where Acuff sat down for an interview with Krysten.
The caption reads: “Arkansas commit Acuff has been a walking bucket all week at Nike Hoop Summit. We sat down, and he discussed playing with Maleek Thomas next year, and he discussed playing with Maleek Thomas next year, improvement to his game, improving his game, and explaining why he chose to play for coach Cal over other schools.”
Acuff was a 5-star point guard and the second-ranked point guard for his position in the 2025 class. Acuff, ranked No. 10 in the ESPN 100, committed to Arkansas on July 26, 2024. His move to the Razorbacks under John Calipari marked an essential win for Arkansas, a program seeking to make a comeback. He discussed playing with Maleek Thomas next year and improving his game.
Acuff dedication followed Calipari’s move to Arkansas in 2024; having spent 15 years at Kentucky, he cemented his legacy as one of college basketball’s top recruiters and coaches, with 35 first-round NBA draft picks in his record and a national championship in 2012.
Darius Acuff’s Journey to Arkansas
Acuff’s move to Arkansas started long before his formal commitment. Calipari’s achievement speaks for itself; since 2009, he has secured 16 five-star point guards, a streak that continued with Boogie Fland, another five-star guard who followed Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas in 2024.
“You can have a bad deal with good people, but you can never have a good deal with bad people.”
(Via @hoopstudy 🎥)
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) April 12, 2025
The Nike Hoop Summit provides a stage for Acuff to showcase his skills as part of the USA Men’s team, facing off against elite international prospects. The event, recognized for highlighting future NBA stars, saw Acuff deliver an impressive performance, earning him the description of a “walking bucket” from Krysten.
His play on the court served as proof of the skills that made him a top-10 recruit: a combination of scoring ability, playmaking, and leadership that suits Calipari’s system. Acuff’s earlier MVP display at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in 2024, where he amazed an average of 17.5 points, further showcases his current status as one of the premier talents in his class.
Why Acuff Chose Calipari
Acuff’s determination to Arkansas was shaped by the program’s potential and his authentic relationship with the head coach. In his interview with Krysten, he emphasized that Calipari’s history is key to his decision. The legacy of developing top-class guards, including stars like John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, resonates with him, as he also envisions a similar path for himself under his guidance.
Calipari’s approach during recruitment further solidified Acuff’s choice. ” He just tells me to come in, be a dawg, be you, don’t change up, do what you gotta do every day.” This encouragement to stay true to his game gave him confidence that Calipari understood his strengths and would help him grow.
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Their relationship grew through consistent communication, starting with Acuff’s visit to Arkansas’ campus in May 2024 and continuing as Calipari showed a vested interest in his development.
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