Acuff Jr. Leads Razorbacks in Sweet Sixteen

0:00On March 25th, Arkansas Freshman Point Guard Darius Akov Jr. is stilling the show in March Madness. The 19-year-old has powered the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16, where they face No. 1 seed Arizona on Thursday night. As the No. 5 recruit in his class, Akov has exceeded expectations with his scoring, playmaking, and poise under pressure. He's been unstoppable lately, leading Akonsaw to the SEC Tournament title and strong winds over Hawaii and High Point on the tournament's first. Weekend. Against those teams, he averaged 30 points, six and a half assists, and just two-and-a-half turnovers per game, shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. NBA scouts are buzzing, projecting Akov as a top 10 pick in the 2026 draft, with some mocks placing him as high as No. 5. Early doubts about his size and efficiency have faded thanks to his versatility in picking roles, off-ball movement, and calm decision-making, though. His defense as a smaller guard remains a question.

1:01This airs on a match-up is his biggest test yet, pitting Akonsaw's No. 5 ranked offense against the Wildcats' No. 3 defense. Guards like Jaden Bradley and Braden Burries will hound him, while a top-rem protector patrols the paint. A big performance here, especially in an upset, could rocket Akov into lottery conversations and solidify his status as the class's top freshman.