Darius Acuff Jr. Sends Strong Message to NBA Teams Ahead of 2026 Draft

Darius Acuff Jr.'s freshman season at Arkansas was one for the ages. He started all 36 games and averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Arkansas head coach John Calipari said that any NBA team that doesn't select Acuff Jr. next month will "regret it."

"Here's a kid that's playing hurt, can play on the ball, can play off the ball. They talk about X, Y, Z, but this guy is real," Calipari said. "I think if you pass on him as an NBA franchise, you will look back and say, ‘What were we thinking?' You will regret it."

More news: AJ Dybantsa Reveals Surprising NBA Starting 5 That Will Get Him ‘Canceled'

More news: LeBron James Had 5-Word Message for Thunder After Getting Swept

Acuff is expected to hear his name called early on draft night, with most projections placing him firmly inside the top five - often behind AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Acuff delivered a confident message about what NBA teams would be getting if they select him.

"I'm a guy that's not scared to speak up," he said. "You got vets in the NBA that are scared to say something. I don't feel like I'm that guy. I'm the quarterback of the team, and the team goes how I go."

When asked about his meeting with the Brooklyn Nets and what he would bring to the city, he added, "Definitely a superstar point guard for sure. I'll bring a lot of excitement to any city I go."

Acuff made it very clear, however, that he still has areas of his game to improve, pointing specifically to his defense as one of his main focuses right now.

"Definitely on the defensive end," he said. "Just be more focused on that side of the ball so I not only play but stay on the court."

More news: Fans Rip Stephen A. Smith After Suggesting Tyrese Maxey Should Leave 76ers

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM.