Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards from Kentucky and Memphis

John Calipari has built a reputation as one of college basketball’s premier developers of elite guards. From Memphis to Kentucky and now Arkansas, Calipari’s system has consistently produced NBA-ready point guards and first-round draft picks.

Some of the most recognizable names in the sport with Derrick Rose, John Wall and De’Aaron Fox have flourished as freshmen under Calipari before launching standout NBA careers. Right now, Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. is making a statistical case that his debut season may rank among the best of them all.

The SEC Player and Freshman of the Year is averaging 21.2 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 43.2% from 3-point range. The numbers place him near the top of the list among Calipari’s elite freshman point guards.

By comparison, Rose averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists at Memphis in 2007-08 while shooting 47.7%. Wall posted 16.6 points and 6.5 assists during his freshman season at Kentucky in 2009-10. Fox averaged 16.7 points and 4.6 assists in 2016-17, while Tyreke Evans produced 17.1 points and 3.9 assists during his lone college season.

Statistically, Acuff’s scoring and shooting efficiency stand out even among that elite group.

His impact has been evident throughout the season. In Arkansas’ 105-85 win over Texas, Acuff finished with 28 points and 13 assists, one of 16 games this season with at least 20 points and five assists, the most by any Division I player.

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Acuff has been called a “generational player" for his ability to control the game most facets. The freshman guard has also produced one of the most memorable performances of the season, scoring 49 points in a double-overtime loss to Alabama despite playing through a foot injury.

Calipari has coached dozens of future NBA players during his career, but Acuff’s combination of scoring and efficiency is placing him firmly in the conversation among the best freshman guards the veteran coach has ever had.

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