Courtesy of Mike Cawood
FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas have been placed on national player of the year watch lists by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Acuff is 1 of 50 players on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is awarded to the men’s national player of the year.
Acuff and Thomas are 2 of 25 players on the watch list for the Wayman Tisdale Trophy, which goes to the men’s freshman national player of the year.
Acuff has received several preseason honors this season, including:
• Naismith National Player of the Year Watch List (1 of 50)
• USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy POY Watch List (1 of 50)
• USBWA Wayman Tisdale Trophy FOY Watch List (1 of 25)
• Bob Cousy Award Watch List (1 of 20)
• Andy Katz’s Top 10 NCAA Freshmen
• Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandies (1 of 5 National Impact Freshmen)
• All-SEC third team (Coaches)
Thomas has led Arkansas in several categories through the first two exhibitions and the season-opening win.
• He led the team in scoring in both exhibitions and scored 21 in the season opener. Over the three games, he is averaging a team-best 20.7 points per game.
• He led the team in rebounding in the first two exhibitions, getting seven each game, and added six versus Southern. He ranks second on the team through the three games with his 6.7 rebounds per game.
• He led the team with three steals in the season opener and has a team-best eight steals over the first three games.
• He led the team in assists, tying D.J. Wagner, with seven in the season opener and he is second on the team with seven assists through the three games.
