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Darius Acuff Jr. lands historic shoe deal with Reebok

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By James Parker | Last updated Mar 24, 2026 1:34 PM ET

Arkansas Razorbacks star freshman Darius Acuff Jr. is having a March to remember. He has officially reached an agreement on a historic signature shoe deal with Reebok, a representative with the company told ESPN on Tuesday.

Arkansas freshman star Darius Acuff Jr. has landed a signature shoe with Reebok, becoming the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive one from a major U.S. brand while still in college, Reebok’s head of basketball, Jide Osifeso, tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/MDoHkgqdIW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 24, 2026

He’s now the first NCAA men’s athlete to sign a shoe deal with a major brand while still in college.

Acuff led the Razorbacks to an SEC Tournament victory while becoming the first player since Pete Maravich in 1969-70 to lead the conference in both points and assists per game.

He signed an NIL deal with Reebok last May before averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds for the Razorbacks this season.

The deal is also historic for Reebok, as Acuff is now the first men’s basketball player to land a signature shoe with the company since John Wall.

Acuff has flown up NBA draft boards all season and has earned every penny that he’ll receive in this unprecedented deal.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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