The projected top three picks for the 2026 NBA Draft have been determined for months:
AJ Dybantsa, Darrin Peterson and Cameron Boozer.
Regardless of where they rank comes down to personal preference, but these three are widely considered to be the top three names 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 starting guard out of Arkansas, has reached a point where there’s no denying that.
NBA level shooting ability
Acuff is one of the most impressive scorers in the country and arguably the most proficient shooter at the guard position in the entire draft.
The 19-year-old shot 44.5% from three-point range this season and averaged 22.9 points per game.
He does this through a variety of spot-up jumpers, pull-ups, drives, fadeaways, forwards, and about 80 other different ways. The young man seems to be born to score, and do so with ease.
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That’s not all he does, though. Even though he’s only a first-year player, Acuff understands the power of focus. He uses his 195-pound frame to get into the paint and create opportunities for his teammates, knowing defenders will overpower him because of his scoring ability.
His 30 points and 11 assists against Vanderbilt on Sunday to help the Razorbacks win the SEC title was a perfect example of why he’s at the top of the NBA draft rankings.
His fluidity is on full display, scoring from outside to inside, creating his own shots, and snaking through defenders to a degree reminiscent of a young Damian Lillard.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) scores a layup between Vanderbilt Commodores forward Devin McGlockton (99) and forward Jalen Washington (13) during the SEC Championship Game on March 15, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(“Icon Sportswire” via Getty Images)
Can he become a franchise leader?
Acuff’s ascension through John Calipari’s system has shown plenty of signs that he can become a star at the professional level – and maybe even more than that.
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His aforementioned efficiency is one thing, but that’s only because he’s a low-turnover defender who plays with his head on spin. His 10.3 TOV% ranked in the 78th percentile nationally, a number that only becomes more impressive when you consider how well he handles the ball.
Akaf 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 through the structure of the offense in search of his own offense, but almost never does so without reason.
He tends to position himself more as a ball-handler and opportunistic scorer when the team is going well, and will direct the ball more when Arkansas needs a spark.
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His game and IQ suggest he can reach a level where he can be the best player on an NBA team, which should be a huge draw for teams looking for a leader.
Is he good enough to be drafted ahead of Boozer? Time will tell, but it’s certainly a fair debate for now.
Finally, he has yet to have a game this season without scoring in double figures, which is a strong indicator of stability and a trait that NBA teams have valued very much in recent years.
If Acav can make it to the NBA with a pro game (which he seems to be), and teams can expect him to be a consistent performer, that will be a game changer.
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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 and there should be plenty of teams considering moving him up draft boards.
