Darius Acuff Jr. Says Teams Will Get a 'Dog,' Where Does He Go in New NBA Mock Drafts After Lottery?

Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. isn't projected as a top-three pick in the 2026 NBA draft, but he's motivated to prove himself over the next month.

While speaking to Andcape's Marc J. Spears, Acuff made it clear that he plans to impress teams during the pre-draft process.

"I just got to showcase my talent," Acuff told Spears about his upcoming team workouts. "I got to have the same mindset as playing [games]. Go out there and kill it. I know what it is. They will see, if they don't. … Teams are going to get a dog. Winner. An alpha for sure. Everyone will know it for sure."

Both ESPN's Jeremy Woo and B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted in their respective mock drafts that Acuff would be selected sixth overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

Acuff was a consensus first-team All-American and the SEC Freshman and Player of the Year after his stellar season for the Razorbacks. He also earned the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in the nation while averaging 23.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists and leading Arkansas to the Sweet 16.

It's clear that Acuff has the confidence that he will be one of the best players to emerge from this year's draft class, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he boosts his stock throughout the pre-draft process.