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ArkansasDarius Acuff Jr. Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

The freshman point guard is widely seen as a lottery pick with the option to withdraw by May 28.

Overview

  • Darius Acuff Jr. announced on ESPN's NBA Today that he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft.
  • He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists as a freshman, becoming the first SEC player since Pete Maravich to lead the league in both.
  • He won the Bob Cousy Award and swept SEC Player and Freshman of the Year, reinforcing projections that place him in the lottery.
  • Evaluators praise his scoring and playmaking but question his defense, noting he averaged 0.8 steals in his lone college season.
  • He is Arkansas’ second offseason declarant after Meleek Thomas and, if drafted, would become the program’s fifth one-and-done pick.