SAN JOSE, Calif. — Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose. Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall. NBA All-Stars Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Booker, Tyler Herro and Tyrese Maxey.
These are just some of the guards that Hall of Fame coach John Calipari has groomed en route to the pros. The University of Arkansas men’s basketball head coach is confident his heralded freshman Darius Acuff Jr. will be among that esteemed list, too.
“Pass on him, you’ll regret it,” Calipari warned NBA teams to Andscape after the Razorbacks’ practice Wednesday at SAP Center. “I said it about Maxey. I’ve said it about a bunch of guys. I said it about Shai: ‘You’re going to regret passing on this kid.’ And I know there are other good players, but this kid [Acuff] is unique.”
Acuff was projected to be the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft by ESPN’s Jeremy Woo on March 11. In two weeks, the 6-foot-3 guard has risen as a draft candidate with stellar play in the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments.
The SEC tournament MVP became one of the NCAA’s most prolific scorers as a freshman, averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6% from 3-point range.
Acuff has averaged 30.2 points per game in five postseason contests, including a 36-point performance in the second round of the NCAA tournament against High Point on March 21. One NBA general manager told Andscape recently that he views the 190-pound Acuff as the top guard and third-best overall prospect in the draft, behind freshman forwards A.J. Dybantsa of BYU and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.
Despite being named an Associated Press first-team All-American, Acuff acknowledged to Andscape that he felt overlooked this season.
“Yeah, it’s always been like that,” Acuff, 19, said. “I ain’t tripping on it. When you win, everything will come within itself. That is my main focus. … When I was younger, I was always the smallest guy. When I got to high school, nobody really paid attention to Detroit like that. You have to go out and play with heart. In high school, I dealt with the same thing. I had to play and show up at every big stage.”
Acuff has raised his NBA draft stock in recent weeks by averaging 30.2 points in Arkansas’ five postseason games thus far.
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Considering the next NCAA tournament opponent for the No. 4 seed Razorbacks (25-8) is No. 1 seed Arizona (34-2) tonight in the Sweet 16, Acuff certainly has reason to be focused on his next game and not the NBA.
“It’s great to see. It’s something you’ve always dreamed of,” Acuff said about the NBA talk. “But the season is not over yet. I want to keep winning and everything will cover itself. [The attention] is cool. But the season is still going on and I’m trying to win. I’m trying to keep it rolling.”
Arizona, the Big 12 tournament champion, has won 10 games in a row after suffering its only two losses this season against Kansas and Texas Tech on Feb. 9 and 14, respectfully. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Wildcats (+330) had the best odds to win the 2026 NCAA tournament. Arkansas (40-1) had the 11th-best odds.
Does Acuff see this as a David vs. Goliath type of college basketball matchup?
“No. I wouldn’t say that. It’s another game,” he said. “A bigger game for sure. It’s the Sweet 16. But it’s a basketball game. As long as we play our brand of basketball, we will be good.”
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The 2026 NBA draft has long been projected to be deep in talent and special at the top. A month ago, it was safe to say most of that attention was on Dybantsa, Wilson, Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson and Duke freshman center Cameron Boozer.
But since Acuff scored 49 points in a 117-115 double-overtime loss to Alabama on Feb. 18, the spotlight has continued to grow on the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Off the court, the mild-mannered Acuff has 125,000 followers on Instagram. The Detroit native landed a signature shoe with Reebok, becoming the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive one with a major U.S. brand while still in college. He also has recently appeared in social media commercials endorsing Sam’s Club and CVS.
“I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but it pops up,” Acuff said of the attention he receives on social media. “Of course, you see some of it. But I’m not just trying to search up what someone [is saying]. I’m not doing that. I’m locked in to make sure my team keeps advancing. But if I read something, I just scroll past it. I’m not paying attention to it.”
Acuff said he has felt overlooked for much of his freshman season, just as he did in high school.
Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire
Calipari told Andscape he is uncertain how Acuff and young basketball players manage the attention and pressure that comes with social media and the media today.
“The guys I’ve had that have gone on through and been All-Stars — 13 [players], a couple MVPs — they lived in the gym,” Calipari said. “The most important thing in their life was basketball. Not all this other bulls‑‑‑. That kid is the same way. He doesn’t have a car. Didn’t want a car. Didn’t want to deal with it. He’s grown up. When these kids are 16 and 17, people expect them to act like they’re 20. And that’s why I say, ‘When I get some of the kids and they’re immature and they do stupid s‑‑‑, they are supposed to.’
“How they deal with the social media and all that stuff, talk radio, all this and direct messages, I tell them all the time, ‘Much respect…’ But he is one where the s‑‑‑ doesn’t faze him.”
One longtime NBA scout told Andscape he has been impressed by how Calipari has helped Acuff develop into much more than a feared scorer over the course of his freshman season. Acuff agreed, saying he’s “grown a lot.” Calipari said he has seen an improvement in Acuff’s leadership qualities and body language this season.
“What I didn’t know is that his will to win is what it was,” Calipari said. “But when I saw that, I thought, ‘If he gets that other stuff right, he’s going to be good.’ ”
Said Acuff: “The main thing is I’ve become a leader talking to the team. We have a lot of veterans. As a point guard, you got to lead and make sure everyone is in the right spot.”
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
