Allen Iverson dubs top NBA Draft prospect ‘the next him’

With March Madness in full gear, the NBA’s top prospects have a chance to gain momentum before the annual draft. Some of this year’s most hyped collegiate talents include Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer. Numerous mock drafts are projecting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. to be a top 10 pick in the annual event. Acuff averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 assists over 35 games, earning him SEC Player of the Year honors. Finishing out his first year at Arkansas, Acuff has gained a strong endorsement from Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. In a recent post on Instagram, Iverson called Acuff “the next HIM”. Iverson is widely regarded as one of the greatest guards in NBA history, accumulating 11 All-Star selections throughout his career. In 2001, he was named the league’s MVP and led the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA Finals appearance. With John Calipari serving as the program’s head coach, Arkansas will be looking to make a deep run in the annual NCAA tournament. Last year, the Razorbacks were eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen round by the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In his head coaching career, Calipari has made six Final Four appearances and won one national title. The 67-year-old will be looking to coach the Razorbacks to their first national men’s basketball title since 1994. Arkansas has already secured a Sweet Sixteen appearance for this year’s edition of the tournament, defeating the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and High Point Panthers in the opening rounds. Acuff totaled a team-high 60 points between the two games. In order to get to the Final Four, Arkansas has Arizona Wildcats, Utah State Aggies, Texas Longhorns, and Purdue Boilermakers on its side of the bracket. As the No. 4 seed and current SEC Tournament champions, the program is a serious contender in the West Region. Overall, the tournament has proven to be a beneficial experience for Acuff’s draft stock. Whether or not Arkansas finishes as national champions, Iverson’s endorsement suggests that Acuff has the talent to make a significant impact in the NBA. For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.