Why isn't Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. generating more No. 1 pick buzz ahead of March Madness?

Tankathon's mock draft has the Sacramento Kings selecting Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (6-foot-6, 205 pounds) with pick No. 1, followed by the Indiana Pacers grabbing Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (6-foot-9, 250 pounds). The Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, take Acuff (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) with pick No. 7. However, it's arguable that he's been just as or even more impressive than his fellow freshman phenoms.

Through 30 games, Acuff has averaged 22.2 points per game and 6.4 assists per game and shot 43.7 percent from three-point range. He has also posted a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Assist-to-turnover ratio divides a player's total assists by total turnovers to calculate their efficiency. A score of 3.1 or higher is considered good.

Per OptaStats, no Division I player of any class has ever posted this stat line in a season (min. 75 percent of games played).  

His stellar play has put Arkansas in a position to win the SEC Tournament (scheduled March 11-15 in Nashville) for the first time since the 1999-00 season. The Razorbacks (22-8, 12-5 SEC) clinched a double-bye in the 16-team field with the win over the Longhorns (18-12, 9-8 SEC). 

"He hasn't played like a freshman since the jump," Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 said of Acuff on Thursday. "He's been as consistent as any guard, maybe any player in the country not named Cam Boozer. Every night, he produces. He's phenomenal." 

The only thing that may prevent Acuff from going No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft is height. The last time a guard 6-foot-3 or under was taken with the top pick was when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving (now with the Mavericks) in 2011. 

Like NBA champion Irving (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), Acuff could be a game-changer for the team that lands him in the draft. And he may end up being the best player in the class.