Darius Acuff planning Kentucky visit: "It’s just a family"

It may have been a surprise seeing Darius Acuff come off the board as one of the first rising juniors to receive a scholarship from John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats back in April. He had just wrapped up his first Nike EYBL session playing up a grade with The Family’s 17U squad, barely a recruiting profile to his name at the time. Then he became just the third player in 2025 to earn an offer.

By the end of the EYBL regular season, the 6-foot-2 point guard was a top-five scorer in the entire circuit, averaging 20.1 points per game on 43.6% shooting, 35.9% from three and 82.4% at the line while adding 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 28.8 minutes per contest. He’d wind up as the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 1 point guard in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.

Acuff’s momentum with The Family stalled out at Peach Jam, going 1-4 in North Augusta to end the grassroots season, but his status as one of the nation’s best talents was firmly solidified.

Among the best of the best

“It felt good, this was a great experience. I just want to come back better next year,” the standout guard told KSR. “(Wanted to prove) that I know how to win and that I’m a good shot-maker, knowing how to get a shot off and get to the hole. I can get my teammates involved and play defense, everything.

“Just being able to play up, I feel like I showed a lot of toughness,” he said. “I can score on anybody. I can get my shot off on anybody. Just playing up, I feel like I showed my toughness and my confidence.” 

He models his game after NBA superstars Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard — two relatively undersized guards known for being among the best scorers in the world.

“Just the way they create their shot,” Acuff said. “Dame, he’s tough. He goes out there and just kills everybody. And Kyrie knows how to score on anybody.” 

The Detroit native understands size and athleticism are his biggest weaknesses at this point — both mostly out of his control. But he has gotten taller — now 6-2 — and he’s learned to adapt as a scorer through length and physicality.

Again, he did finish No. 4 overall in scoring on the EYBL circuit.

“I got taller, so I’m able to get my shot off more over taller defenders,” he added. “And I’m also getting stronger so I can get to the hole, not letting anybody push me off my spot.”

Growing list of offers and interest

His production has led to an obvious flood of high-major offers and interest — 15 scholarships since the start of the spring alone. It’s an experience he’s enjoying, taking things day by day as he continues to build relationships with coaches across the country.

“It’s been good, it’s been an experience. I’m building a good relationship with every college coach. It’s been good though,” he told KSR. “It’s a lot of schools at once. Kentucky, Indiana, Houston, Michigan, Michigan State – a lot of them. This fall I’ll be taking a couple of visits. All of the schools I just named, I’ll be taking visits to them.”

Kentucky’s track record

He singled out Kentucky as a school expected to receive an official visit. What does he like about the Wildcats?

“It’s just a family,” he said. “They build a great relationship with you and great guards come from there. It’s a great school. Coach Chin is telling me to just keep going, get better, stay in the gym, and lead your team.”

Like most up-and-coming guards, he likes John Calipari’s track record with the best of the best at his position, rattling off some of the bigger names he has enjoyed watching in Lexington over the years.

“A lot of players. John Wall, Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), TyTy (Washington),” Acuff told KSR. “I’ve been watching for years now, so there are a lot to name. De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. All of them.” 

Staying home?

Kentucky is one of a select few schools the standout guard grew up following closely, along with the local programs.

“I always watched Michigan,” he added. “As I got older, it was Kentucky and Michigan State. All of them. It was a lot of schools.”

Does the idea of staying close to home appeal to the top-15 recruit out of Detroit? It’s too early to tell, especially with his recruitment exploding the way it has in recent months.

“I don’t know yet,” Acuff said. “In another year or two, I’ll figure it out. As of right now, I don’t know.” 

Looking ahead to a decision

A decision couldn’t be further away — “I’m young,” he said, adding that he has time to get things sorted out. He appreciates the offers and interest rolling in now, though, so he doesn’t “have to be guessing at the last minute.” The dynamic scoring guard can begin weighing his options and see who is prioritizing him the most starting now.

When it does come time to make a decision, however, what will he be looking for?

“A great culture,” he told KSR. “Building relationships with coaches and your recruiter, that’s important. I’m looking for a family. … A family environment, but also a coach that’s going to keep it 100 with me. Not just sugarcoating everything I do right, but telling me everything I do wrong too. Holding me accountable for everything.”

Expect the two sides to keep building that family relationship moving forward.