Five-Star Recruit Gets Big News Before Joining John Calipari at Arkansas
John Calipari made an immediate impact in his first season at Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. After a legendary run at Kentucky, where he won 410 games, Calipari now looks to build a championship-caliber program in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks have not reached the Final Four since 1995, the season after their only national championship. With expectations rising and a passionate fan base behind him, Calipari is assembling a roster capable of contending in the grueling SEC during the 2025–26 campaign.
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One of the biggest highlights of Arkansas' highly touted 2025 recruiting class came over the weekend. Five-star point guard Darius Acuff Jr. delivered an electric performance at the Iverson Classic, scoring 32 points and handing out 11 assists. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of the event.
The event, held at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, features the top high school basketball players in the country and is presented by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.
Acuff, a dynamic and explosive guard, finished his prep career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Before that, he starred for two seasons at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan.
Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari.Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
His resume also includes an outstanding showing at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where he represented Team USA. Acuff averaged 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and four assists per game en route to being named the tournament MVP. The U.S. went on to win the gold medal in the event.
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In addition to landing Acuff and a strong freshman class, Calipari has been active in the transfer portal to bolster the Razorbacks' depth and experience.
Malique Ewin, a 6-foot-10 forward from Florida State, is joining the program, offering much-needed frontcourt size. Arkansas also added Nick Pringle, a physical forward who previously played for SEC rival South Carolina.
With high-level freshmen and proven transfers coming in, Arkansas is poised to take another step forward under Calipari's leadership.
Related: Michigan State Makes Tom Izzo Decision on Thursday
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit is Turning Heads With New Post
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