Two 5-star guards make Fayetteville weekend visits

Five-star point guard prospect Darius Acuff Jr. is expected to leave Fayetteville on Sunday after his official visit with Arkansas men’s basketball Coach John Calipari and staff wrapped up Saturday.

Because Sunday is a dead period, college coaches can’t have contact with prospects.

Acuff, 6-2, 180 pounds, of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, reportedly made an official visit to Kentucky in October when Calipari was still the Wildcats’ coach. He recently officially visited Kansas.

A Detroit native, Acuff visited Michigan last fall prior to Juwan Howard being dismissed as the Wolverines’ coach.

Acuff averaged 22.7 points 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last weekend for Michigan-based The Family program on the EYBL circuit in Atlanta. He shot 41% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the three-point line and 81.2% on free throws.

He was named The Circuit Nike EYBL Session II second team for his play. For the first two sessions of EYBL play, he’s averaging 21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

The Family Coach Eric Evans said Acuff is a combination of outstanding character and player.

“I’ve known him for a very long time and he’s an amazing kid,” Evans said. “His talent is, of course, some of the best in the country, but as a kid he’s one of the best kids around. Great spirit. Always laughing, joking around. Just wants to get better all the time. That’s his goal, always been. He’s a workaholic and is always in the gym.”

Acuff was named to the The Circuit Nike EYBL Session I first team in EYBL play in Memphis after averaging 21 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists during the April 26-28 weekend.

ESPN rates him as a 5-star recruit, the No. 2 point guard and the No. 9 overall prospect in the nation for the 2025 class. ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi call Acuff “a special talent” and points out that Calipari have been recruiting him awhile.

“His skill level and feel for the game continues to grow,” Biancardi said. “He’s got an uncanny feel for shaking defenders off balance and getting into the lane to score or find an open teammate. He has great passing vision when his head is up. He has been facilitating much better as of late.

“His drive game is strong with either hand and has overall confidence and control handling the ball. His special skill is having the ability to make tough shots or turn a broken play into a scoring play. The game is starting to slow down for him.

“Moving the ball as a decision-maker will make him even more dangerous. He does not have to make home run pass.”

Calipari has produced 58 players who were selected in the NBA Draft during his 31year college coaching career, including 47 in his first 14 seasons at Kentucky — which is 12 more than Duke, the next closest school.

Acuff said he admires Calipari as a person and his ability to produce top talent.

“He said he’s one of the guys he would love to play for … like at the top of his list,” Evans said. “Just about Cal as a great coach and a great person. What he’s does, I think speaks for himself. He talks about he gets guys to the next level. That’s where he wants to be.

“Cal is someone he’s very open about and somebody that’s at the top of his list.”

WAGNER VISITS

D.J. Wagner, a former consensus 5-star prospect and former Kentucky guard, also visited the Hogs this weekend. He reportedly also visited Southern Cal and former Razorback coach Eric Musselman recently.

A native of Camden, N.Y., and a former McDonald’s All-American, Wagner started 28 of 29 games and averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Wildcats. He was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team.

Wagner, 6-4, 192 pounds, scored 27 points and had 3 assists and 2 rebounds in two victories over Arkansas this season. On3.com industry ranking lists Wagner as the No. 51 transfer in the transfer portal.

Earlier this week, Gator Country reported Wagner would also be visiting Florida.

His father, DaJuan Wagner, played for Calipari at Memphis and was a first-round pick and No. 6 overall selection of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA Draft. His grandfather, Milt Wagner, starred at Louisville and was a big part of the Cardinals’ 1986 national championship team.

A consensus 5-star recruit, Wagner was rated the No. 1 combo guard and No. 6 overall recruit in the nation for the 2023 class as a senior by on3.com.