{"id":372725,"date":"2026-06-24T07:40:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T07:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/372725\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T07:40:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T07:40:33","slug":"sacramento-kings-select-arkansas-guard-detroit-native-darius-acuff-jr-with-no-7-pick-in-2026-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/372725\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento Kings select Arkansas guard, Detroit native Darius Acuff Jr., with No. 7 pick in 2026 NBA draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2013 The Sacramento Kings selected Arkansas Razorbacks guard and Detroit native Darius Acuff Jr.<\/a> with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday, adding one of the nation\u2019s most dynamic young playmakers to their backcourt.<\/p>\n

Acuff, a 6\u20323\u2033 point guard from the Motor City, arrives in the NBA after one of the most decorated freshman seasons in college basketball history. <\/p>\n

A consensus First-Team All-American, Bob Cousy Award winner, and SEC Player of the Year, he established himself as one of college basketball\u2019s premier guards under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari at Arkansas, and never looked like anything other than a lottery pick from the moment he stepped on campus.<\/p>\n

–> \u2018Growing up in Detroit prepared me\u2019: Darius Acuff Jr. credits hometown after being drafted No. 7 by Kings<\/a><\/p>\n

Historic freshman season<\/p>\n

The former five-star recruit, a McDonald\u2019s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic participant, and Nike Hoop Summit invitee, exceeded even the highest expectations in Fayetteville.<\/p>\n

Acuff ranked third nationally in scoring at 23.5 points per game and ninth in three-point field goal percentage at 44%, while pacing the SEC in scoring, assists (6.4 per game), and minutes (35.1 per game). He set Arkansas single-season records for points (845) and assists (232), and became only the second player in SEC history to lead the conference in both scoring and assists in the same season, joining Pete Maravich in that elite company.<\/p>\n

He also became just the third player, joining Anthony Davis and Brandon Miller, to earn both SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year in the same season. <\/p>\n

Acuff was also a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden National Player of the Year awards.<\/p>\n

He capped his conference season by leading Arkansas to its first SEC Tournament title since 2000, earning Tournament MVP honors after averaging more than 30 points per game. <\/p>\n

The Razorbacks finished 28-8 and second in the SEC standings.<\/p>\n

Tournament stage, record-breaking night<\/p>\n

Acuff elevated his draft stock throughout Arkansas\u2019 NCAA Tournament run.<\/p>\n

He delivered a 36-point performance in a 94-88 victory over High Point, shooting 11 of 22 from the field, knocking down three three-pointers, and converting 11 of 13 free throws. <\/p>\n

Over six tournament games, he averaged 29.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 steals, his best basketball coming on college basketball\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

Acuff\u2019s season also included a jaw-dropping regular-season performance: a freshman-record 49 points against Alabama on Feb. 18, the most ever by any Razorback in an SEC game, during a double-overtime loss. <\/p>\n

Arkansas\u2019 run ended in the Sweet 16 against Arizona, but it did little to diminish what Acuff accomplished in his lone collegiate season.<\/p>\n

Detroit roots, national rise<\/p>\n

Acuff\u2019s basketball foundation was built in Detroit, and his father helped lay it.<\/p>\n

Darius Acuff Sr. played point guard at Eastern Kentucky and coached his son from an early age, instilling the competitive mindset that would eventually carry Acuff to one of college basketball\u2019s most celebrated freshman campaigns.<\/p>\n

After starring at Cass Technical High School and helping lead the Technicians to a Division 1 state championship, Acuff Jr. transferred to IMG Academy, where he further cemented his status as one of the nation\u2019s elite prospects. <\/p>\n

Acuff Jr. capped his pre-college career as MVP of the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup, earning gold with USA Basketball on the international stage.<\/p>\n

Calipari\u2019s influence<\/p>\n

His decision to attend Arkansas was driven largely by Calipari\u2019s track record of developing NBA guards.<\/p>\n

That decision paid off immediately. <\/p>\n

Acuff flourished in Calipari\u2019s system, displaying elite shot creation, advanced pick-and-roll decision-making, and the ability to score from all three levels. <\/p>\n

Scouts praised his combination of skill, poise, and basketball IQ, a quick first step, tight ball-handling, and deep shooting range, all packaged in a strong frame with a 6-foot-5.5 wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his listed height.<\/p>\n

Acuff Jr. averaged 6.4 assists against just 2.2 turnovers per game, a ratio that made him one of the most complete offensive guards in the country. <\/p>\n

Scouts compare him to Jamal Murray, who also played for Calipari at Kentucky, before developing into one of the NBA\u2019s premier two-way guards. <\/p>\n

Like Murray, Acuff Jr. is a patient, three-level scorer capable of functioning as an elite distributor, and his career trajectory could mirror Murray\u2019s gradual, steady rise, including his first All-Star appearance in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

Reebok, Iverson, a rising brand<\/p>\n

Away from the court, Acuff has already established himself as a marketable young star.<\/p>\n

In May 2025, he signed a reported multi-year NIL agreement with Reebok worth approximately $1.1 million, connecting him with basketball legends Allen Iverson and Shaquille O\u2019Neal, both of whom offered guidance as he prepared for the professional level.<\/p>\n

Iverson has long been Acuff\u2019s favorite player to watch, and getting that access clearly meant something.<\/p>\n

Acuff has also cited Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham among his biggest basketball influences.<\/p>\n

Next step<\/p>\n

Now, Acuff joins the Kings organization with the expectation of becoming a cornerstone piece of the franchise. <\/p>\n

Known for his leadership, scoring versatility, and advanced feel for the game, he enters the NBA as one of the most accomplished, pro-ready prospects in the 2026 draft class, and he won\u2019t even turn 20 until November.<\/p>\n

The Kings hope those qualities translate quickly at the professional level as Acuff Jr. begins his NBA career.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEW YORK \u2013 The Sacramento Kings selected Arkansas Razorbacks guard and Detroit native Darius Acuff Jr. with the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":372726,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[130042,150987,126327,794,77239,121,123,128,122],"class_list":["post-372725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-2026-nba-draft","tag-cass-tech","tag-darius-acuff-jr","tag-detroit","tag-nba-draft","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-kings","tag-sacramento-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=372725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/372726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=372725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=372725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=372725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}