FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The last time Arkansas had this much national buzz about a freshman guard, Moses Moody and Anthony Black were turning college promise into first-round NBA reality.
Now all the talk has shifted to Darius Acuff Jr., a Detroit native whose name is already penciled into NBA lottery projections for 2026.
The anticipation isn’t just about potential; it’s about what Acuff has already shown on some of the biggest stages high school basketball has to offer.
By the time Acuff stepped onto the campus in Fayetteville, he had already built a reputation as the most dominant and dynamic lead guard in his class.
“He burst onto the national scene in the spring of 2023 by putting up huge numbers in the Nike EYBL,” wrote Adam Finkelstein, director of scouting for 247Sports, in his ‘way-too-early’ 2026 NBA Mock Draft for CBS Sports. “Since then, he’s only continued to sculpt his frame and assert his playmaking prowess.
“He was arguably as good as anyone in the country at putting his team on his back and creating offense on demand last year at IMG Academy.”
Such praise isn’t doled out lightly, especially in an era where five-star guards are almost expected to be one-and-done.
Acuff averaged 20.4 points and 5.5 assists per game during his junior year at IMG Academy, guiding the Ascenders to a 20-9 record and a top-six finish in the final MaxPreps poll. His efficiency and leadership stood out.
“He’s a tough shot maker who knows how to create space, with an uncanny feel for shaking defenders off balance,” reads one scouting report.
Reports are that poise and confidence have become signatures of his game.
What separates Acuff from other top recruits isn’t just his scoring but his ability to control the game’s tempo and make reads under pressure.
He’s comfortable driving with either hand, possesses exceptional ball-handling, and is a capable playmaker in transition.
His outside shooting, 35.9% from three in the 2023 Nike EYBL and 36.3% in 2023-24 EYBL Scholastic events, adds another dimension to his offensive game.
For Razorbacks coach John Calipari, who arrived at Arkansas with a reputation for molding NBA-ready guards, Acuff is the kind of player who could restart a streak.
Calipari’s previous run of 17 straight years producing a first-round NBA Draft pick ended in 2025 when Adou Thiero went 36th overall. That streak, which included 25 lottery selections, helped define Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky and set a new standard for college-to-pro pipelines.
“Acuff is the most dominant and dynamic lead guard in the class, who plays with outward confidence. He controls the offensive end of the floor with the ball in his hands,” one 247Sports scouting report observed.
That control is exactly what Calipari’s guard-centric approach demands. Acuff, along with returning standout DJ Wagner and another five-star freshman in Meleek Thomas, will have every opportunity to shine in a backcourt designed for high usage and NBA-style spacing.
The stakes for Acuff’s freshman campaign are high, both for Arkansas and for his own NBA aspirations.
Should he fulfill the projections, Acuff would be just the third Razorback to go in the lottery as a one-and-done player, joining Moody and Black. The significance is not lost on those who follow the program closely.
“At Arkansas, he looks like the next dynamic guard to star for John Calipari,” Finkelstein predicted, “and while they return DJ Wagner and add another five-star freshman guard in Meleek Thomas, the expectation is that Acuff will have every opportunity to stand out.”
Acuff’s journey from Detroit Cass Tech to IMG Academy and now Arkansas has been defined by self-belief and continual adaptation.
As a junior at IMG, he didn’t just pile up stats, he made his teammates better and won MVP honors at the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp, where he averaged 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, helping the United States win gold.
Versatility is why scouts and analysts are convinced he can translate his success against elite prep competition to the SEC and, eventually, the NBA.
What makes Acuff’s fit so intriguing is the perfect storm of talent and opportunity.
The Hogs have become a magnet for high-level recruits, and with Calipari at the helm, the system is built for high usage guards who can score, distribute, and take over in clutch moments.
“Calipari’s track record with producing star NBA guards is unmatched by any current college coach,” the 247Sports report notes, and that’s not hyperbole.
Guards like John Wall, Devin Booker, Tyler Herro, and De’Aaron Fox all flourished under Calipari’s watch at Kentucky before making the leap to the NBA.
Yet for all the hype, Acuff remains grounded. Interviews with coaches and teammates paint a portrait of a leader who is intense in competition but measured off the court
“He just sees the floor at another level,” said a former IMG teammate. “He can take over with his scoring, but he’s always looking for the right play.”
The 2026 NBA Draft conversation is already swirling, with CBS Sports projecting Acuff as the No. 5 overall pick, potentially to the Phoenix Suns.
That projection comes with the caveat that mock drafts this far in advance are speculative, but the consensus is clear that Acuff has the tools, mindset, and context to make it a reality.
Acuff’s presence signals a new chapter for the program with a chance to reclaim the momentum that began with Moody and Black, fueled by a coach whose NBA pipeline is the envy of college basketball.
If Acuff lives up to the billing, he’ll be remembered not only as a lottery pick but as the player who helped restore the Hogs’ reputation as a launching spot for NBA-bound guards.
