Darius Acuff Jr.'s 2026 NBA Draft Stock Discussed by Insiders, Star Talks Jalen Brunson Inspiration

Despite his lack of size, some in the NBA believe Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. can thrive at the next level, much like New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson has.

Speaking to ESPN's Myron Medcalf, several NBA talent evaluators gave their thoughts on the 6'2", 186-pound Acuff and how he fits into the league.

"I think Acuff can open some eyes in the NBA," a Western Conference scout said. "Brunson has kind of brought back the smaller, scoring, tough physical point guard that can lead a team. And Acuff has some of those traits. He might even have a little more."

An Eastern Conference executive suggested that Acuff's offensive skill set could allow him to thrive in the NBA despite being on the smaller side, saying, "For a guard like Acuff, he has the ability to get in the paint as well as be able to punish defenses from the perimeter. Having a skill like being able to shoot the three off the bounce is a highly regarded skill for smaller guards in the game today."

A Western Conference exec praised Acuff's offense, but also noted that he will have to raise his defensive game once he's in the NBA, saying, "I think he's going to be challenged defensively and he's going to have to accept and embrace that challenge if he wants to be at the highest level. But I think he's got the offensive talent for sure. And those guys are hard to find. When you can do all those things and score the way that he can, an offensive hub in the NBA is not an easy thing to find and he's got that ability."

Highlights from Darius Acuff's 28-Point Game

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In his one and only collegiate season at Arkansas, Acuff was a superstar, leading the SEC in scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4 per game) en route to being named SEC Rookie and SEC Player of the Year, as well as winning the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in college basketball.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Acuff has worked out with the Milwaukee Bucks, though he may not be on the board when the team picks at 10, barring a trade up. Fischer noted the Sacramento Kings have also been linked to Acuff.

Brunson was similarly productive in college, averaging 18.9 points and 4.6 assists per game as a junior, and winning both Big East Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award honors, while winning a pair of national titles at Villanova.

Acuff compared his game and mentality to that of Brunson, telling Medcalf, "We feel like we can go out there and play against anybody. I feel like I can hopefully do the same thing one day and it's definitely inspiring to see."

Despite his collegiate success, the 6'2" Brunson fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft, and it wasn't until after he signed with the Knicks in 2022 that he became a full-time starter and one of the league's best offensive players.

Brunson is now a three-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA Second Team selection, and he has led the Knicks to a 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, bringing them within one win of their first championship since 1973.

The success of Brunson has helped change the narrative surrounding smaller players in the NBA, which could be why Acuff is in the conversation as a top-five pick and was projected to go sixth overall to the Brooklyn Nets in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.