The Arkansas Razorbacks have turned around since John Calipari took over as head coach. In each of the last two seasons, the Razorbacks have made the NCAA Tournament. It is the second straight year they have made it to the Sweet 16.
They have been led by freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. He is the leading scorer on the team and has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the country. With him on the floor, Arkansas believes it can win any game against any opponent they face.
Acuff has been dynamic throughout this NCAA Tournament run, scoring 50 points in the last two games. Now, he has set some history.
Arkansas Razorbacks Star Guard Darius Acuff Creates History
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Acuff has now received a shoe deal from Reebok. He becomes the first NCAA player to receive such a deal while they are still in school. After the run in the NCAA Tournament, Acuff will likely declare for the NBA Draft.
Right now, the top of the draft is centered around four players. A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer are all in contention to the be the number-one overall pick. Caleb Wilson is likely slotted at fourth. Acuff looks like he’s well-positioned to be fifth.
If he has a strong run to the Final Four, there’s a chance that Acuff could ascend further in that pecking order. He has shown the ability to not just score at a high level, but also pass it, as well. He is averaging over six assists per game in addition to scoring over 23 points per game.
Reebok hasn’t has a signature shoe deal for someone since John Wall, so this is a massive step for someone in Acuff’s position. It’s unclear when the signature shoe will make its debut, but it likely won’t be for a while.
The Razorbacks Need Acuff to Play Well to Beat Arizona
If Arkansas wants to have any shot of beating the Wildcats, they need Acuff to play his best. Arizona is a number-one seed and is one of the favorites to win the national championship. They have several players on the roster who will likely be first-round picks, as well.
Acuff will likely be the best player on the court every time that he plays. If Arkansas plays Duke in the national championship, that would be the only time that would be called into question. He is dynamic and can certainly help his team pull a massive upset.
Calipari will make sure that he puts Acuff in the best possible situation to succeed, because he is the player who needs the ball the most in his hands. Not only can he score, but he creates scoring opportunities for others, as well. Acuff is one of the most exciting players in the country.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are underdogs to beat Arizona, but with Acuff on the court, they have a shot to beat anyone. That is why Reebok is giving him is own shoe deal before he even gets drafted.
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