Duke’s Cameron Boozer, a statistical powerhouse on the nation’s top-ranked squad, is widely expected to be named national player of the year, a recognition he thoroughly deserves for his exceptional performance on an outstanding team.
Currently, he would have my vote.
However, when considering which athlete possesses the unique ability to elevate a team beyond its regular-season performance and NCAA Tournament seeding, Darius Acuff Jr. stands out. The Arkansas freshman delivered another monumental performance on Friday, sinking 11 of 21 shots to compile 37 points, five assists, and five rebounds in an 82-79 victory against Oklahoma. This win not only likely burst the Sooners’ NCAA Tournament hopes but also propelled the Razorbacks into Saturday’s SEC Tournament semifinals.
“I know he’s frequently likened to many NBA talents, and rightly so,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser commented prior to his quarterfinal clash with Acuff and Arkansas. “He possesses a combination of Derrick Rose and Allen Iverson’s speed, infused with strength. He also consistently makes accurate passes. For someone so young, he maintains composure remarkably well. His scoring ability spans all three levels; he can effortlessly drive to the basket, create space for a pull-up jumper, and boasts excellent long-range shooting. He’s simply phenomenal.”
How many more SEC coaches must praise Acuff in this manner before his exceptional talent is universally acknowledged? (For context, here’s what Texas coach Sean Miller remarked about Acuff just last week.) This individual, anticipated to be a top-10 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, currently boasts averages of 22.7 points and 6.4 assists for an Arkansas squad ranked 15th in the latest CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings, updated Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Duke retains its No. 1 spot for the 21st day in a row after defeating Clemson on Friday.
Duke is set to face Virginia in the ACC Tournament championship game, one of three major conference title matchups slated for Saturday. The other highly anticipated finals include Arizona versus Houston in the Big 12 Tournament, and St. John’s against UConn in the Big East Tournament.