Image – Ethan Doan
Image – ESPN
Darius Acuff Jr. declares for the 2026 NBA Draft
Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. announced his intentions to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft today on ESPN’s NBA Today.
Acuff Jr. scored 23.5 points, added 6.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and shot an impressive 48.4% per contest. In the SEC Tournament Championship game, he helped the Razorbacks to an 86-75 win against Vanderbilt with a double-double by scoring 30 points and adding 11 assists.
The unanimous All-American helped Arkansas reach their fifth Sweet 16 appearance in six seasons with 36 points and six assists to help the Razorbacks overcome High Point.
Acuff Jr. swept the honors as SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a member of the All-SEC First Team, and was the Bob Cousy Award winner as the nation’s top point guard.
The Detroit native joins fellow freshman guard Meleek Thomas in the NBA Draft, however he kept his collegiate eligibility unlike Acuff Jr., who did not. John Calipari and the Razorback staff await Billy Richmond III’s decision on his future, whether he will join Thomas and Acuff Jr. or return for his junior season.
High-end five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. is expected to replace Acuff Jr. as the top player for Arkansas as Calipari fills the roster following the transfer portal closing last night. Fellow freshmen JJ Andrews and Abdou Torre and incoming transfers Cooper Bowser, Jeremiah Wilkinson join Smith Jr. on the current Arkansas roster.
Wing Karter Knox, guard DJ Wagner, forward Karim Rtail, center Elmir Dzafic, guard Jaden Karuletwa, and center Malique Ewin have exited the program via the transfer portal. Forward Trevon Brazile and center Nick Pringle have exhausted their collegiate eligibility after completing the 2025-2026 season with the Razorbacks.
