Arkansas Standout Darius Acuff Jr.'s Draft Stock Just Went Up

The 2026 NBA Combine is a wrap, and now, all eyes are on the 2026 NBA draft, where the talented college players at Combine will find their NBA homes.

One of the winners of the Combine was clearly Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

In a feature for Bleacher Report after the week-long NBA Combine, Jonathan Wasserman rattles off the winners and losers of the event. “Every year, the NBA Draft Combine gives prospects a chance to change their draft stock in front of dozens of front offices - through measurements, athletic testing, scrimmages and closed-door interviews,” he notes in the piece.

One of his biggest winners of the Combine is Acuff, noting that his measurements were reassuring.

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“Learning Darius Acuff Jr.’s measurements was a top priority for lottery teams in Chicago,” he states in the story. “Seeing 6’2″, 185.8 pounds and a 6’7″ wingspan should be very assuring and comforting for the teams that were disappointed after missing out on a top three pick.”

He adds: “While there has been conversation and concerns over the value of smaller guards who get targeted defensively, Acuff may now look special enough offensively and strong enough physically to avoid teams red-flagging his size.”

My Analysis: Darius Acuff Jr. is Trending the Right Way

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Acuff’s showing at Combine should help solidify him in that top tier NBA draft ranking. He’s projected to go early, and after his strong showing and reassuring measurements, he’s a likely No. 5 pick for the Los Angeles Clippers or No. 6 selection for the Brooklyn Nets. He won’t surpass players like AJ Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer, but he certainly proved that he belongs in that top tier during the Combine.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 1:45 PM.