Darius Acuff, the No. 1-ranked point guard in the hoops recruiting class of 2025, according to Rivals.com and 247sports.com, will announce his college choice at 4 p.m. Central Time on Friday, he announced Saturday on his Instagram page.
Acuff, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has a final three of Kansas, Arkansas and Michigan. He is a Detroit native who has said he grew up a fan of the Wolverines.
Acuff has visited all three schools. He apparently has dropped UConn from his list despite indicating recently he was planning on visiting the Storrs, Connecticut campus. He will be announcing his college choice at ACC Youth Center in Highland Park, Michigan.
Acuff is ranked No. 4 overall in the class of 2025 according to 247sports.com, No. 9 by Rivals.com and No. 10 by ESPN.com. ESPN lists Acuff as the No. 2-rated point guard in the class behind only Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park High in Pittsburgh.
Earlier, Acuff had considered Missouri, Pitt, Nebraska, Providence, DePaul, Alabama, Xavier, LSU, St. John’s, Houston, Rutgers, Ohio State, Indiana, UCF, Michigan State, TCU, and Georgia Tech.
“Bill Self is a savage. It was a great visit overall,” Acuff told On3.com of his April 19-21 trip to KU . “It felt like family there. It is a different atmosphere there. I went there for an unofficial visit too, I went for a game (last season). So I’ve been to Kansas twice. That atmosphere there is the best in college basketball, it was great to see. I talk to the staff all the time. Coach (Kurtis) Townsend, and coach (Bill) Self, I talk to them all. Our relationship has grown a lot.”
He said he wants to play for a coach, “who is going to let me be me out there, but also someone who will hold me accountable for everything I do. Play for a coach that won’t let me do anything that will hurt my game. I want to play for a coach that will develop me. I’m trying to go to the league.”
Last spring Acuff was named MVP of the FIBA Under 18 AmeriCup, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game.
“A volume-scoring guard capable of making difficult shots look easy and absolutely taking over games from a scoring standpoint, Darius Acuff is as exciting as prospects come,” wrote Rob Cassidy of Rivals.com . “The Detroit native continues to make small strides when it comes to his shot selection, which still needs refining, but he is already one of the most reliable and explosive scorers in the country.”
Cassidy has said the Kentucky Wildcats were thought to be the leader for Acuff, but now that former UK coach John Calipari is in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks may be leading.
Joe Tipton of on3.com recently wrote of Acuff : “He said he likes to pattern his game after NBA legends at the point guard position. His favorites are old-school players like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, along with current players like Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant and Trae Young. “I’ve seen every Iverson highlight, him and Stephon Marbury,” Acuff said. “There’s something about their game that you want to add to your game. They were legends, and that’s what I want to be, too.”
Noted Rashad Phillips of Prestige Management Group: “Darius Acuff is this generation’s Stephon Marbury. Same measurables at 6-2 180, 6-6 wingspan, all muscle, wiggly guard, excellent scorer, feel, strength, speed, pace, and knowledge. Pound for pound he’s a top 3 player in the country now. In football terms Acuff Jr is the No. 1 quarterback in the country.
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