Acuff and Thomas on Naismith Player of the Year Watch List

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback signees Darius Acuff Jr., and Meleek Thomas were two of 50 players named to the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.

Acuff and Thomas are both listed among the nation’s top 10 recruits by ESPN.com, ranking as the top two point guards in the country, respectively. Acuff is additionally considered the nation’s top point guard by 247Sports and On3Composite. Thomas is the top-ranked shooting guard by 247Sports and the #2 shooting guard by On3, Rivals and 247Sports.

Acuff and Thomas are the first Razorback signees to be listed among the national top 15 players by both 247Sports and ESPN in the same recruiting class. Additionally, Arkansas is the only program to sign two of the top 10 players on the ESPN100 list with Acuff ranking eighth and Thomas ninth.

Among Razorbacks, Acuff (#5 by 247Sports and #8 by ESPN) ranks second-highest on the ESPN100 lists, trailing only #3 Nick Smith Jr., and third-highest on the 247Sports lists, trialing #1 Nick Smith Jr., and #3 Al Jefferson. Thomas (#9 ESPN and #11 247Sports) ranks third-highest and fourth-highest, respectively, on the two lists. (NOTE: Corliss Williamson was the 1993 Gatorade National HS Player of the Year and considered #1 or #2 in all the recruiting services, but official records are not available.)

Acuff and Thomas become the 55th and 56th ESPN five-stars to commit to Calipari since 2007 (as far back as records go). They are the 17th and 18th players to rank among the top 10 point guards in their respective classes and 13th and 14th players to be rated among the top two point guards. Since 2007, Coach Calipari has landed at least one five-star point guard in every class except 2008, 2012 and 2019.

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