The path from Fayetteville to Brooklyn is starting to take shape for Darius Acuff Jr.
The former Arkansas point guard has been invited to the NBA Draft Green Room, joining a select group of top prospects who’ll be seated near the podium when the draft kicks off June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.
The event runs June 23 and 24.
The Green Room is where the most coveted names in any draft class wait to hear their futures called out loud.
It’s an invite-only setup, and making the cut signals where a player stands in the eyes of the NBA.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, Acuff is one of 14 draft-eligible players extended an invitation so far.
First wave of 2026 draft green room invites went out today, per sources:
AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson
Cam Boozer
Caleb Wilson
Keaton Wagler
Mikel Brown Jr.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Aday Mara
Karim Lopez
Kingston Flemings
Nate Ament
Brayden Burries
Christian Anderson Jr.
Labaron Philon— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) June 9, 2026
He’s in the company of AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina), Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Mikel Brown (Louisville), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Nate Ament (Tennessee), Aday Mara (Michigan), Brayden Burries (Arizona), Karim Lopez (Mexico), Labaron Philon (Alabama) and Christian Anderson (Texas Tech).
The Detroit native is widely projected to land somewhere between picks five and seven, making him a near-certain lottery selection.
That would end the brief gap in John Calipari’s run of producing first-round picks — a streak that didn’t carry over from his previous program last draft cycle but is set to resume in Brooklyn.
Acuff’s one season in Fayetteville was historic. He earned both SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year honors while breaking multiple program records during his lone campaign with the Hogs.
He won’t be the only former Razorback with pro dreams riding on draft night.
Meleek Thomas has been tracking as a late first-round prospect while Trevon Brazile has floated around the middle of the second round in most mock draft projections.
Three former Arkansas players hearing their names called across two nights in Brooklyn would be a meaningful moment for the program.
Acuff’s green room invite, though, puts him in a category of his own heading into draft week.
