Basketball (M)

Acuff Named USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Month

March 3, 2026
USBWA Release

FAYETTEVILLE – Darius Acuff Jr. added to his portfolio for National Player of the Year as he has been named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Oscar Robertson National Player of the Month for February.

Acuff was the “high-major” recipient while Aidan Kehoe (Navy) was the “mid-major Player of the Month.”

The freshman from Detroit guided Arkansas to a 5-2 record in February. Highlighting the month was his 49-point performance at Alabama, which was arguably the best game of the season. Acuff played all 50 minutes of an 88-possession game, grabbing five rebounds, dishing five assists and only giving up one turnover.

For the month, Acuff averaged 27.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field and 48.8% from 3-point range and posting a 3.58 assist-to-turnover ratio. He was also named SEC Freshman of the Week once, National Freshman of the Week by CBS Sports once, SEC Player of the Week once and was the National Player of the Week by AP and USBWA after his Alabama performance.

Acuff is the only player in the nation averaging 20 points (22.0) and 6 assists (6.2) on the season while shooting 49% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range. Acuff is pacing to become the second player to lead the SEC in scoring and assists, joining Pete Maravich in 1969-70.

Acuff is on the watch lists for the following awards:

  • USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy
  • John R. Wooden Award
  • USBWA Wayman Tisdale Trophy
  • Bob Cousy Award
  • Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy

Acuff’s Season Honors:

  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 8)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 15)
  • Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandy of the Week (12/5)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 22)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Jan. 5)
  • Naismith National Player of the Week (1/5)
  • NCAA March Madness National Freshman of the Week (1/5)
  • Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandy of the Week (1/5)
  • CBS Sports National Freshman of the Week (1/6)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Jan. 12)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Jan. 26)
  • SEC Freshman of the Week (Feb. 16)
  • Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandy of the Week (2/16)
  • SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 23)
  • AP National Player of the Week (2/24)
  • USBWA co-National Player of the Week (2/24)
  • CBS Sports National Freshman of the Week (2/24)

For more­­ information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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