Acuff Jr. Makes History with Reebok Deal

0:00On March 26, Darius Akuf Jr., the 19-year-old Arkansas Point Guard, just made history by signing a signature shoe deal with Reebok. He's the first men's college basketball player to land one while still in school, right in the middle of March madness. On the court, he's been unstoppable, averaging 23.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He led the Razerbacks to the SEC Championship and picked up both SEC player of the year and rookie of the year honors. NBA analyst Michelle Beetle couldn't hide her excitement, playfully saying he's outshining even top prospects like Cooper Flag, who didn't snagga. Deal like this in college. This isn't your typical NIL agreement. Signature shoes usually go to NBA stars or international standouts. For Akuf, it boosts his profile to pro levels before he's even thought about the draft, showing how Reebok wants back in the basketball game. Meanwhile, Arkansas faces Arizona in the sweet 16 soon, and if Akuf keeps dominating like he did with 36 points against High Point, they could go far.

1:08He's not just riding the new NIL wave. He's helping redefine college hoops for freshmen everywhere.