2026 NBA Draft: Darius Acuff Jr. Scouting Report
- Babcock Hoops
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2026 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Position:Â Guard
College:Â Arkansas
Class:Â Freshman
Height/Weight:Â 6'3", 190 lbs
Birthdate:Â November 16, 2006
High School: IMG Academy (FL)
Player Overview
Acuff is an offensive-minded, tough scoring guard who is effective with pace, shiftiness, and shot-making versatility. He plays with confidence and poise, operating at his own tempo while consistently dictating possessions with the ball in his hands. He’s comfortable creating separation with a tight handle, jabs, and 1–2 dribble pull-ups, and he’s a real problem in transition when he gets downhill. In the half court, he can break defenders down in isolation, create advantages through pick-and-roll actions, and make tough shots off the dribble, with scoring touch that extends from the rim to the midrange and beyond. His strength and body control show up as a finisher through contact, and while he’s wired scorer-first, he has the vision and feel to generate assists, especially out of ball screens when the reads are clean. Defensively, he competes with toughness and uses his strength well; his lateral quickness is solid, though not elite. Overall, his blend of scoring instincts, confidence, and physicality gives him a legitimate NBA trajectory if his decision-making and two-way consistency continue to sharpen.
"Acuff is a dynamic on-ball guard who’s a tough cover in pick-and-roll and in transition. He’s an electric shot-maker who puts real pressure on defenses as a scorer and playmaker." — Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst
Strengths
Downhill Pressure:Â Attacks with force and control, consistently collapsing the defense and finishing through contact with strength and body positioning.
Shot-Making Versatility:Â Capable of scoring on three levels with pull-ups, floaters, and tough makes off the dribble. Comfortable taking and making contested shots in tight windows.
Pick-and-Roll Creation:Â Plays with poise as a ball-screen operator, using angles and tempo to get into gaps. Can punish coverage with scoring or the right pass when the read is clear.
Handle and Change of Speed:Â Advanced ball handler with counters and patience. Controls tempo, keeps defenders off-balance, and creates separation using burst.
Secondary Playmaking:Â Not a pure point guard, but has enough vision to generate offense for others off penetration and ball screens.
Competitive Makeup:Â Confident, plays with an edge, and carries himself like a go-to option who wants big moments.
Concerns
NBA Size Translation:Â Strong and physical, but closer to the smaller side for an NBA lead guard. Must consistently win with efficiency, craft, and decision-making against length and athleticism.
Lead Guard Balance:Â Scorer-first by nature and can over-dribble. Continued growth as a decision-maker and organizer will determine his ceiling.
Motor and Body Language: Effort and engagement aren’t always consistent. When locked in, he competes; when he’s not, his impact can dip.
Bottom Line
Darius Acuff Jr. is a confident, physical, score-first guard who can tilt a game with shot-making, downhill pressure, and pick-and-roll creation. The NBA appeal is clear: he can create offense on demand, play at his own pace, and generate advantages that stress defensive structure. The main swing area is whether he can evolve into a steadier lead guard who balances scoring with consistent decision-making. If those pieces tighten up, and his defensive engagement becomes more reliable, he has a real path to becoming a high-level player with legitimate upside.
