Soph Spotlight: Acuff & McLavish

Detroit Cass Tech sophomore Darius Acuff.

Two already accomplished 2025 point guards shared the court Saturday at Grand Blanc’s Carmody Classic. Flint Carman-Ainsworth sophomore Chris McLavish made his statewide statement here last year against Brother Rice. This time it was Detroit Cass Tech soph Darius Acuff further solidifying his reputation, scoring a career-high as the Technicians set a total points record for the event in an 88-68 win.

Acuff scored 38 points on 13-of-22 field goals, including 3-of-7 three-pointers and 8-for-8 free throws. Cass Tech led 37-27 at halftime, then Acuff went nuts in the third quarter making all five of his shots, starting with a step-though in the lane, then a leaning, falling, and-one off the glass getting a foul on Carman’s best frontcourt player, Eli Hennings. Strong at 6-1, Acuff is at his best when getting a shoulder into a defender and riding, attacking, manipulating him into the lane; loves to start out on the left wing, and end up finishing on the right side of the basket. As a shooter, if you give him a second to line it up, probably not gonna miss. Also key to Cass getting separation was how it handled the Cavaliers’ pressure, with Acuff passing instead of dribbling through it. Conversely, Acuff get steals and layups, maybe even a cherrypicked one here or there, out of the Techncians’ press. He’s a pretty good defender for an underclassman, and even had a blocked shot.

McLavish scored 17 points of 6-of-14 field goals, including 5-of-10 3s, and 4-for-4 from the stripe. After missing his first two 3s he showed some rare indecisiveness and passed on a couple shots before finding the juice. Even if he’s not scoring McLavish earns his court time and produces because he does a lot little things, always rotates back on defense, boxes out hard negating size differentials as he’s 5-8; he passed it well all night with our without assists to show for it, and had a couple of hockey assists. Nice giddyup and vision when the floor opened up — but that was rare given Cass’ speed and length. McLavish’s size was most exploited by freshman football all-American Corey Sadler, who attacked him with a straight-line drive then on the other end knocked around McLavish when the Flint guard tried to drive. Give McLavish a three-inch growth spurt, and recruiting worries dissipate.