Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. has proved his worth in his freshman season. Starting as one of the underrated talents, he has become a player whom everybody appreciates. He is yet another guard who has developed under John Calipari. A few before him were John Wall, Derrick Rose, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Booker, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Darius has now become only the second player, after Pete Maravich in the late 60s, to lead the SEC conference in both points and assists. He has also completed 700+ points, 200+ assists, and 100+ rebounds, first since Ja Morant in 2017. He broke Stephen Curry’s record for the fifth most 30-point games by a freshman guard in NCAA history.
Darius averages 22.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He was the SEC Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and SEC Tournament MVP. After his generational SEC tournament display, Darius has gotten a lot of shouts to be included in the top five NBA draft picks. However, former player Kendrick Perkins heaped praise on the Arkansas star, saying he deserves the No. 1 draft pick.
“I’ve been telling the world about Darius Auff Jr. for the last three months, and I’ve been called everything but a child of God. We all get fascinated with the 6’9s and 6’10s, and the guys that got skill and the level, we don’t even value the quarterbacks of the NBA no more. And we are looking at a prime example of one. This young man is beyond special,” Perkins said.
“Past college basketball, he is a guy that you wanna draft to build your franchise around. He is the perfect example of a franchise player. If I’m an NBA GM and I had a number 1 pick, I’m taking Darius Acuff Jr. He’s a three-level scorer, he’s efficient. And most importantly, he’s getting others around him great looks and great shots. He’s making guys around him better. I call him Mr. WiFi. Because when he is on the court, he connects everything,” Perkins heaped praise.
“So when you’re talking about what he’s doing at the college level, freshman player of the year, SEC player of the year, he’s going to be in the running for the college basketball player of the year, and on the big stage, he shines the brightest. Yes, he’s 6’2, 6’3, but who gives a damn? We have to get back to valuing the point guard position. And this young man is one of the best of the best,” he added.
Fans React to Darius Acuff Jr. Getting His Flowers From Kendrick Perkins
Fans online did not agree with the No. 1 pick prediction for Darius from Kendrick Perkins.
“Hell no. He’s good but a complete liability in defense. Top 10 pick for sure but not #1. Way below Peterson & Boozer on my board,” one fan said.
“Over AJ?” another wondered.
“I think the only way he goes 1 is if the Mavericks or maybe Brooklyn get the 1st pick. But he damn sure shouldn’t go no further than the 3rd pick,” another claimed.
“Not over AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer….hell even Darryn Peterson,” one fan stated.
“Perk is notoriously wrong about everything,” one fan commented.
Read more:
Darius Acuff Jr. Draws Comparisons With Allen Iverson in High Praise from Stephen A. Smith
After Breaking 56 Year Old SEC Record, Darius Acuff Jr. Enters Elite Company Feat. Ja Morant
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