No. 2 PG Darius Acuff Breaks Down Michigan, Rutgers, Kentucky Officials; Talks Possible Future Visits.

Darius Acuff is the No. 2 point guard in the 2025 On3 150. The 6-foot-1 junior at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy participated in this weekend’s USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp, where he was one of 84 players invited from the 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes. This was Acuff’s first time with the USA Basketball program.

“I want to show everyone how much I’ve improved since going to IMG and show everyone I can be a leader,” Acuff told On3. “I’ve worked on my defense this summer; I want to show that here. And just lead, I mean, I’m a point guard. My confidence went way up this summer. Playing up on the EYBL, after that first session, my coach just said, ‘Do you.’ Now I’m just playing.”

On3 caught up with four-star Darius Acuff during the minicamp to break down the current state of his recruitment.

I’ve been to Michigan on an official visit so far,” Acuff said. “Then I am going to Kentucky on October 14, and I’ve got a visit to Rutgers on February 7.”

Acuff Talks Official Visits

Michigan: “Coach Juwan (Howard), man, he treated me like family. That was my first time being around him all day, and for like three days straight. They treated me like family there; it’s a real family environment up there. And I know all the coaches, so it was a good visit, and I learned a lot.

“I like how they play; they play a lot like I do. I watch a lot of Trey Burke highlights all the time. My big bro, Derrick Walton, went there. Dug (McDaniel) that’s my dog, he’s up there. I’m just learning everything I can; that’s what it’s all about for me because I’m still young.”

Kentucky: “It’s a great coaching staff, a great school. I mean, y’all all know the school and what they do. They’re in a great league. Coach Cal (John Calipari) gives you so much confidence. It’s a family school, they’re a family program.

“I’m excited to see the practices. I’ve heard a lot about it, but want to see it all for myself. I’m going to be looking at the point guards, see what they have them doing, and be watching how they lead.”

Rutgers: “Coach Smoke (Marlon Williamson), that’s my dog, he’s like family to me. They got a great school, and they’re getting big-time recruits. Ace Bailey is going there. I want to get there to get a better feel for the school, really. See what the daily routine looks like. Watch their practice and see how hard they go.”

Acuff Talks Possible Visits

“I’m talking with schools like Kansas, Georgia Tech, Indiana, and Alabama about visits,” Acuff said.

Alabama: “Coach (Nate) Oats is my dog. He coached high school in Michigan when I was younger, so we got a connection there. But year, they are a great school; it’s a great guard school.”

Kansas: “We have great conversations. They’re a great school. They sell out every game. They got a lot of tradition; I mean, it’s just a great school.”

Indiana: “They are a good school for sure. I love the coaching staff, and I talk to them like every day. And really, I just like how they talk to you; they really keep in touch every day.”

Georgia Tech: “Coach (Damon) Staudamire is a great dude. He’s played in the league, he’s coached in the league. He knows what it takes to get there and to stay there. He talks to me a lot about being at the next level.”

The Decision

“I want to go into a family environment,” Darius Acuff said. “I want to play for a coach that is just going to let me be me. Don’t want them to sugarcoat anything. Tell me what’s good; tell me what I’m doing wrong. Don’t just be nice to me because I’m there. 

“I like to play fast-paced and with the high and side pick-and-roll. And in a system that has freedom and where I can be me.