Rumor: Kings targeting Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. with 1st round pick
· Yahoo Sports
After a historic freshman campaign at Arkansas, Darius Acuff Jr. is drawing interest from several teams selecting high in the 2026 NBA draft, potentially including the Sacramento Kings.
Acuff was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 23.5 points, 6.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 44% from 3-point range. He ranked third in the country in points (845) and seventh in assists (232), both of which were single-season program records.
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The 6-foot-3 guard is most commonly projected to go in the 4-8 range, making him potentially available when the Kings are on the clock with the seventh pick. The organization has some ties to Acuff, which could make him a target, according to Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports.
Sources around the league widely believe the Kings are targeting Acuff with this pick. There is a lot connecting them. Kings general manager Scott Perry and assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong are both born and raised in Detroit. So is Acuff. Perry coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky in the late 1990s.
Acuff, who was the SEC Player of the Year, joined Pete Maravich as the only players in history to lead the conference in points and assists in the same season. He was the only Division I player last season to average at least 20 points and six assists.
The Bob Cousy Award winner is highly touted because of his scoring and ability as a lead guard who can create for himself and get others involved. He has a quick shot and isn't afraid to pull up from deep, while he was also effective in penetrating the paint.
Acuff is sure to garner looks from plenty of teams in the draft thanks to his vast offensive skill set. Should Acuff still be on the draft board when the Kings are on the clock on June 23, the organization could be a potential landing spot for him.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Rumor: Kings targeting Darius Acuff Jr. with No. 7 pick in NBA draft