As Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. continues to climb draft boards, his rise is no longer a secret—especially for teams like the Sacramento Kings, who are keeping a close eye on backcourt talent.
During an appearance on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys with Kevin Gleason & Allen Stiles, John Nabors—owner of Inside Arkansas and host of Locked On Hogs—offered a detailed look at why Acuff has become one of the most talked-about players in college basketball.
“This guy has been the most incredible Razorback basketball player of all time,” Nabors said. “There hasn’t been a bad game. I mean, a bad game for him is only getting 18 points and seven assists.”
The 6’3 guard is averaging 23.3 points (7th in NCAA Division I), 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists (13th in NCAA Division I), and 0.8 steals per game on 49 percent shooting from the field and an incredible 44 percent from three-point range.
DARIUS ACUFF IS LIKE THAT 🔥
Acuff finished with 36 points as Arkansas knocked off High Point to advance to the Sweet 16 pic.twitter.com/KtIYgPaySI
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 22, 2026
More on Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr.
Beyond the production, Nabors emphasized Darius Acuff Jr.’s demeanor.
“He’s not a show-me guy. He just goes out and grinds. He just goes out and plays.”
That workmanlike mentality, paired with elite skill, has made him both reliable and easy to build around—traits that translate well to the NBA.
Defense remains one of the few questions surrounding Darius Acuff, particularly given his size (6’3, 190 lbs). But Nabors pushed back on the criticism.
“I’m not gonna sit here and say that Acuff is a lockdown defender,” Nabors said. “But I also don’t think he’s as bad as maybe the numbers show.”
Instead, he pointed to context—Arkansas prioritizing keeping its star on the floor and out of foul trouble. “The best ability is availability,” Nabors added.
What truly separates Darius Acuff, though, is his ability to elevate teammates. Nabors highlighted a historic accomplishment.
“He did something in the SEC that hasn’t been done since Pete Maravich—leading the conference in points and assists.”
That dual-threat production underscores his unselfishness and feel for the game. “If a guy’s hot, he’s going to get him the ball… the team trusts him completely.”
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
As for NBA comparisons, Nabors acknowledged the difficulty but leaned toward a familiar name. “I was a huge Allen Iverson fan… and I think the comp is about as good as any right now.”
While he stopped short of saying Darius Acuff will reach those heights, the stylistic similarities—shot creation, explosiveness, and scoring versatility—are evident.
With the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball still dancing in March (as of Thursday morning), Darius Acuff has a massive opportunity ahead. Over the past week-plus, he has jumped from the 7th-8th-pick range to potentially becoming a top-five pick.
“If he keeps doing what he’s doing and Arkansas goes on a run, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t be one of, if not the number one player taken,” Nabors said.
For teams like the Kings, Darius Acuff isn’t just rising—he’s forcing his way into the conversation as a potential franchise-changing guard. Will it be enough for Sacramento to take him with a high lottery pick this summer?
Check out the full interview with John Nabors by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will continue their final road trip of the season on Saturday afternoon when they face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Sacramento dropped a 133-100 blowout loss to the Hawks on November 12th, as Jalen Johnson poured in 24 points, grabbed 10 boards, and handed out 8 assists in the win.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 4:30 pm PT tip-off from downtown Atlanta.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Saturday, March 28th – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4:30 PM PT
Sunday, March 29th @ Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT
Wednesday, April 1st @ Toronto Raptors – 5:00 PM PT
Friday, April 3rd vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 6:00 PM PT
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