Trio of Five-Star Freshman Shine in Saturday College Basketball Slate

Saturday featured an entertaining slate of college basketball games.

Programs around the country were in action on Dec. 6, giving observers a glimpse at a number of NBA prospects who could be selected in the 2026 draft class.

Among that group, a trio of freshman who were heralded prospects coming into college starred for their teams. Here is a look at three performances from first-year players and former five-star recruits on Saturday.

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Acuff finished with 18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, a steal and a turnover in the Razorbacks' win against Fresno State.

The talented guard shot 7-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, leading all scorers in the contest.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Acuff was rated the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 point guard in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports. In his first nine college basketball games, Acuff is averaging 17.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting 46% from the field and 42% from 3-point range on more than 5 attempts per game.

With good playmaking and perimeter shooting ability, Acuff could be a top 20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft if he continues to perform well against SEC competition.

Shelton Henderson, Miami

Henderson accumulated 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block against Southern Mississippi, helping the Hurricanes to an 88-64 win.

The freshman wing shot 4-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line on Saturday as Miami improved to 8-2 on the season.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Henderson is averaging 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Rated the No. 23 overall player and No. 6 small forward in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Henderson could be a first-round pick with a solid showing in ACC play.

Matt Able, NC State

In a win against UNC Asheville, Able tallied 13 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, 2 blocks and a steal in 20 minutes off the bench.

Able shot 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range, giving the Wolfpack solid minutes off the bench. Coming out of high school, Able was rated the No. 26 overall prospect and No. 6 shooting guard in the country, per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, Able is averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field and 34.9% from deep.

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