For months, the projected top three of the 2026 NBA Draft has been firmly established:
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.
Whichever way they’re ranked boils down to personal preference, but that trio is widely considered to comprise the first three names being called in June.
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However, someone is knocking on that door and trying to get in.
Darius Acuff Jr., the 6-foot-3 lead guard out of Arkansas, is reaching the point where he is becoming outright undeniable.
NBA-caliber shot-making
Acuff is one of the nation’s most impressive scorers and arguably the most skilled shot-maker from the guard spot in the entire draft.
The 19-year-old has canned 44.5% of his 3-point attempts this season and is putting up 22.9 points per game.
He’s doing this on a wide array of spot-ups, pull-ups, drives, fadeaways, lean-ins and about 80 other different ways. The youngster is seemingly born to score — and with ease.
Except, that isn’t all he does. Despite being just a first-year player, Acuff understands the power of attention. He uses his 195-pound frame to get into the paint and make plays for teammates, knowing defenders overplay him due to his scoring prowess.
His 30-point, 11-assist game against Vanderbilt on Sunday, in which the Razorbacks won the SEC championship, illustrated perfectly why he’s high up on NBA Draft boards.
His fluidity was on full display, scoring from outside and in, creating on his own and snaking his way through defenders to an extent that reminded of a young Damian Lillard.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) scores on a layup between Vanderbilt Commodores forward Devin McGlockton (99) and forward Jalen Washington (13) during the SEC championship game March 15, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Could he be a franchise leader?
Acuff’s ascension in John Calipari’s system shows plenty of signs that he could become a star at the pro level — and maybe even more than that.
His aforementioned efficiency is one thing, but that’s only aided by the fact that he’s a low-turnover guard who plays with his head on a swivel. His 10.3 TOV% ranks in the 78th percentile in the nation, and that number only grows more impressive when you consider how much he handles the ball.
Acuff ranks in the 98th percentile in assist percentage and 96th percentile in assist-to-turnover ratio.
He’s a formidable floor leader who knows when to break out of the structure of the offense to seek his own but virtually never does so without a reason.
When the team is rolling, he’s far more inclined to apply himself as a table-setter and more opportunistic scorer, whereas he’ll command the ball more when Arkansas needs a spark.
His game and IQ indicate he can reach a level in which he can be the best player on an NBA team, and that should be enormously attractive for franchises who are looking for a leader.
Is he good enough to be chosen ahead of Boozer? Time will tell, but right now it’s certainly a fair debate.
Finally, he’s yet to have a game this season in which he hasn’t hit double-figures, which is a strong indicator of consistency, a trait that NBA teams have put a premium on in recent years.
If Acuff can hit the NBA with a pro-ready game, which certainly seems to be the case, and a franchise can expect him to perform at a consistent level, well, that’s a game-changer.
We’ll see how he and the Razorbacks fare over the next few weeks, but one thing should be certain: Acuff already has a resume that should have plenty of teams considering moving him up their draft boards.
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