Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. Linked to Surprise Team in NBA Draft

It’s time to look ahead to the 2026 NBA draft, now that the full week of NBA Combine events have closed out.

One player who’s making all kinds of moves in mock drafts after Combine is Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas. He’s been as high as No. 3 in mocks and usually goes around No. 5, as he did in a recent NBA mock from NBC Sports, but now, he’s taking another turn.

In a mock draft from USA Today published on Tuesday, May 19, Bryan Kalbrosky gives his projections for what will happen in the draft now that Combine has wrapped up. Players can stay entry draft candidates through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 if they want to keep their collegiate eligibility or they can head back to college and the NIL landscape.

“After the conclusion of the scouting combine in Chicago,” he states in the piece, “talent evaluators are walking away with new opinions on some of the players after they completed measurements and athletic testing.”

He picks Acuff going to the Kings down at No. 7 in the draft. That’s lower than many mocks but still a good number.

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“En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory,” he states in the piece. “Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well.”

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My Take: Darius Acuff Jr. to the Kings

According to Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor, people in the NBA “widely believe” the Kings want Acuff. They’ve done their homework, and they know more about their needs than anyone, so the idea that they’re targeting Acuff says a lot. He’s an elite guard who has shown a versatility on the court that will benefit this struggling team.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 1:42 PM.