Darius Acuff Jr. signs historic Reebok shoe deal
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Darius Acuff Jr. signed a signature shoe deal with Reebok, making him the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive a major U.S. brand endorsement while still in college, according to Reebok basketball head Jide Osifeso.
- Darius Acuff Jr. is ranked No. 8 on ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo’s big board for the 2026 NBA draft.
- Darius Acuff Jr. became the SEC Player of the Year and the first player since Pete Maravich (1969‑70) to lead the conference in both points and assists per game.
- Darius Acuff Jr. scored 60 points in the SEC tournament, surpassing Kentucky’s Pat Riley (58) for the most points by an SEC player in his first two career NCAA tournament games in a single year, and helped Arkansas reach the Sweet 16.
- Darius Acuff Jr. is the second player in the past 50 years—alongside Billy Donovan—to average 30 points and five assists per game in his first two career NCAA tournament games.
- Darius Acuff Jr. became the second freshman since 1973, joining Chris Paul (2004), to begin his NCAA tournament career with consecutive games of at least 20 points and five assists.
- Reebok’s last men’s basketball signature shoe was for John Wall; Acuff’s deal marks the first such signature since then.
Why it matters: Reebok secures a marquee college star to revive its men’s basketball shoe line, while Acuff earns a lucrative endorsement before turning pro; the deal sets a new precedent for early NCAA athlete branding, significantly reshaping the market for college‑level endorsements.
Ask SkimNews
