Darius Acuff Jr. Is Going Pro and NBA Teams Are About to Find Out What They've Been Missing
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. just made it official. On Wednesday, he announced on ESPN's "NBA Today" that he is declaring for the 2026 NBA draft, and when you look at what he put up as a freshman, you understand why teams are already circling.
A Freshman Season Nobody Expected
Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his first year with the Razorbacks. That's not a typical freshman line. He was doing work on both ends, and it showed. The Razorbacks rode his production all the way to the Sweet 16, proving he could handle high-pressure moments in real games against real opponents.
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ESPN's Jeremy Woo has Acuff ranked sixth overall among all available players in the 2026 draft class. That "projected lottery pick" label isn't just media hype either. When you average over 23 points as a true freshman and help your team make a Deep tournament run, NBA scouts take notice. The numbers speak for themselves, and Acuff's announcement means the draft process officially kicks into overdrive.
The 2026 NBA draft is shaping up to be loaded with talent, and Acuff is right in the conversation for the elite tier. He made the call to leave Fayetteville and test the professional level, and teams picking in the lottery will be studying film and crunching numbers to figure out where he slots into their rebuilds.
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