Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. has made headlines as one of the ten players honored in the Midseason Top 10 candidates for the prestigious 2026 Bob Cousy Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. This recognition highlights Acuff’s stellar performance on the court, where he has been making significant contributions to his team’s success.
With impressive averages of 20.3 points and 6.2 assists per game, Acuff stands out as one of only three players in the NCAA to achieve such scoring and assist figures. He excels further with a remarkable assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.04, ranking 33rd nationally. What makes Acuff’s achievement particularly notable is that he is the only NCAA player to average over 15 points and 5.5 assists while maintaining an assist-to-turnover ratio exceeding 3.
In conference play, Acuff has emerged as a leader, topping the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in assists per game at 6.3 and ranking first in scoring with an average of 22.56 points. His overall statistics place him prominently in both the NCAA and SEC rankings, where he is:
– 1st in Field Goals Made (160)
– 1st in Assists (6.2 avg)
– 1st in the SEC for scoring (20.3 avg)
– 33rd in the NCAA for Assist-Turnover Ratio (3.04)
When assessed among NCAA freshmen, Acuff’s position is equally impressive, standing:
– 2nd in Assists (6.2 avg)
– 3rd in Field Goals Made (160)
– 4th in Scoring (20.3 avg)
– 4th in Assist-Turnover Ratio (3.04)
– 10th in 3-Point Field Goals Made (2.23 avg)
Thanks to his record-tying six SEC Freshman of the Week honors this season, Acuff has also been named to several midseason award watch lists, including the Wooden Award for National Player of the Year and the Oscar Robertson Award.
As fans look forward to the remaining rounds of voting for the Bob Cousy Award, which begins on February 6, they are encouraged to participate through hoophallawards.com, where their votes will carry weight in the final selection process. Acuff’s remarkable achievements not only showcase his individual talent but also bolster the reputation of Arkansas basketball, offering promising prospects for the remainder of the season.