The 2026 NBA Draft was buzzing with anticipation, and right at the center of it all was Darius Acuff, the former Arkansas standout. On Tuesday night, the Sacramento Kings nabbed Acuff with the No. 7 overall pick, making him the fourth guard to come off the board. While many draft experts had pegged him for this spot, there was a palpable sense that the Kings had snagged a gem - a player who, like LSU legend Pete Maravich, led the SEC in both scoring and assists.
The excitement in Sacramento was electric when the Brooklyn Nets chose Louisville's Mikel Brown at No. 6, clearing the way for Acuff to join the Kings. Fans at the Golden 1 Center erupted in cheers, knowing they had landed a player with the potential to be a game-changer.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith summed up the sentiment perfectly, calling Acuff "box office" and suggesting Brooklyn might have missed out on something special.
Acuff himself seemed unfazed by the draft order. Speaking to Kings reporters, he expressed his enthusiasm for joining Sacramento, emphasizing the importance of fit over draft position.
"I wanted to be here," Acuff shared. "Any team I got drafted to, I would have been fine, but this is definitely my best destination."
The Kings' draft class received high praise from analysts, with The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie awarding them an A+ grade. Vecenie highlighted Acuff's potential to develop into a top-tier lead guard with All-Star potential, calling the pick a "home run" for Sacramento.
Arkansas coach John Calipari had been vocal in the months leading up to the draft, predicting that teams would regret passing on Acuff. Drawing parallels to Tyrese Maxey, another one of his former players who exceeded expectations, Calipari was confident that Acuff would thrive in the NBA. "Great kid, worker and can be the face of your team," Calipari noted, emphasizing Acuff's readiness and the mutual desire between player and team.
Standing at 6-foot-3, Acuff's size and defensive consistency were points of discussion, but he remained confident in his offensive prowess and his ability to improve on the defensive end. "I feel like I can do it in different ways," Acuff said, underscoring his versatility and determination to play with heart.
Beyond his skills on the court, Acuff's connection to Sacramento runs deep. Kings General Manager Scott Perry, who coached Acuff's father at Eastern Kentucky, has nurtured a relationship with Acuff over the years.
This connection adds another layer to Acuff's fit with the team. "We’re finally here.
I’m fine. It's the NBA," Acuff reflected, appreciating the journey to the league.
During the 2025-26 season, Calipari often remarked on the confidence both Acuff and his teammate Meleek Thomas exuded, likening it to presidential ambition. This quiet confidence didn't go unnoticed by the Kings, with Perry describing Acuff as someone who carries a strong, attractive presence without arrogance.
As the Kings announced the availability of Acuff’s No. 5 jersey, fans were quick to show their support, eager to see him in action. "He's so fun to watch," Calipari enthused, predicting a surge in ticket sales and a renewed excitement around Kings games.
Calipari also spoke to Acuff's dedication and love for the game, traits that he believes will foster a cultural shift in Sacramento. "This kid's on a path because he loves the game, and he loves the process," Calipari said, highlighting Acuff's work ethic and commitment to improvement.
In Acuff, the Kings not only have a promising player but also a catalyst for change, someone who embodies the passion and drive that can elevate both his game and the franchise.
In Other News...
Calipari May Have Finally Built Arkansas To Match College Basketball's Giants
Arkansas is heading into next season looking a lot less like a conventional college lineup and a lot more like the kind of roster that can bother almost anybody on the floor. John Calipari has loaded the Razorbacks with length at every level, from guards Jordan Smith, Jr., JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure to wings Billy Richmond III and Miikaa Murrinen, then kept adding size with frontcourt options like Cooper Bowser, Paulo Semedo and Ilia Frolov. Even before a ball is tipped, the physical profile is obvious enough to make Arkansas feel built to match the major programs it has to chase.
The most interesting part is how many different ways the rotation could take shape once the season begins. Smith brings elite guard status, Andrews and Toure add more size and talent on the perimeter, and Murrinen gives Arkansas a stretch forward who can do far more than just stand near the rim. Semedo and Bowser give the staff more bulk to work with inside, while Frolov adds another layer to the frontcourt mix, and the only real cloud hanging over the group is Isaiah Sealy's injury status. For a program trying to turn roster length into a real edge, the unanswered questions may be just as important as the size itself. [Read more 🡒]
Silverfield Just Raised The Stakes In Arkansas' QB Battle
Ryan Silverfield still has the Razorbacks quarterback race in front of him, and it remains one of the clearest pressure points on the roster as summer turns toward fall camp. The competition has narrowed to KJ Jackson and AJ Hill, two quarterbacks who each showed enough this spring to keep the staff from moving quickly, while also bringing different traits to an offense that needs the right fit before the season starts.
Silverfield expects the call to come around mid-August, giving the eventual starter enough runway to settle in before the opener. Jackson and Hill both made their case in spring work, and with camp practices ahead, Arkansas is still sorting out whether the job tilts toward Jacksons RPO style or Hills more traditional pocket approach. For now, the answer is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]
EAs First Rating For New-Look Arkansas Will Fire Up Razorbacks Fans
With College Football 27 set to land July 9, Arkansas fans finally got an early look at how EA Sports sees the Razorbacks entering the Ryan Silverfield era. The new ratings show a program still trying to climb back into the SEC conversation, with the Hogs landing at 80 overall, a mark that puts them 46th nationally and gives them an interesting place in the games updated pecking order.
The Arkansas ranking will probably spark plenty of debate around the fan base, especially with the Razorbacks sitting 16th in the SEC picture. For a team introducing a new coach and a fresh reset, the number feels like both a challenge and a starting point, and it is the kind of first impression that tends to stick with players long after the early-access period begins. [Read more 🡒]