Arkansas freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas were plotting their in chats while they were still recruits.
鈥淲e talked about it in high school when we first committed and like I said, it don鈥檛 just take a game, it takes practice, workouts, just it takes a lot of communication, I would say, and we have that,鈥� Acuff said.
The duo’s chemistry is a big reason the Razorbacks (28-8) have advanced to the Sweet 16. Fourth-seeded Arkansas faces (34-2) on Thursday in the West Region.
Acuff, an AP first-team All-American, scored 36 points in the over High Point on Saturday night. Thomas scored 19.
鈥淚t takes a lot of communication, a lot of togetherness, like Darius said,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淲e spoke about that before the season and when you鈥檙e genuinely happy for your teammate, you鈥檙e genuinely happy for your brother, then you really get excited and you get enjoyment out of seeing him dominate and do well. So like when he鈥檚 on, it鈥檚 like, 鈥榊eah, keep doing you.鈥欌��
The duo stands out in a season of fantastic freshmen, including Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Together, Acuff (23.3) and Thomas (15.6) combine for an average of nearly 40 points per game.
鈥淎nd you know what鈥檚 great? They鈥檙e playing off of one another,鈥� Arkansas coach John Calipari said. 鈥淎ll they have done is helped each other. People are like, `How are you going to get these two to play together?’ They鈥檙e both good young people with good hearts and they care about each other.鈥�
Acuff, the Southeastern Conference player of the year, holds Arkansas single-season records with 817 points and 229 assists, eclipsing the previous marks during March Madness. His 36 points against High Point were the most ever for a Razorback during the tournament.
Acuff’s combined 60 points in the first two tournament games are the most scored by a freshman in the opening rounds, passing the record of 57 reached by Cam Thomas at LSU, Zion Williamson at Duke and Kevin Durant at Texas.
The 6-foot-3 Acuff is considered among the top picks in the NBA draft, should he choose to go pro. Known for his strength and a focused determination on the court, he had 30 points and 11 assists in the .
鈥淎lways wanted to be the big moment. Always just thinking win,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ike whatever I got to do to win that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 going to do.鈥�
Thomas gives balance to the Razorbacks’ backcourt, often knocking down the key shot. Against High Point he hit a long 3-pointer with 6:11 left in the game as Arkansas started to shift the momentum.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get Meleek Thomas to catch and shoot it. Quit bouncing it and side stepping, just shoot. So the last one he just caught and shot. He鈥檚 one of the best scorers in the country,鈥� Calipari said after the game.
Against Arizona, the Razorbacks will face another high-scoring freshman duo in Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. Arizona on Sunday to advance.
Arkansas is making its 37th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Razorbacks won the national title in 1994 and were runners-up in 1995. They have been to the Final Four five times, but not since ’95.
The program is in its second straight Sweet 16 and fifth in the last six years. It has made it to that round 16 times. Last year’s Sweet 16 team fell 85-83 .
This season, Arkansas has its supremely confident freshman twosome.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care how they鈥檙e playing. They both have otherworldly confidence in themselves,鈥� Calipari said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I say they could run for president. They鈥檙e so confident in themselves, they could do fine.鈥�
___
AP March Madness bracket: and coverage:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
