Pros:

• extremely quick first step and tight handle; downhill threat

• good passer especially on the drive

• good touch on floaters and close middies

• good pnr decision maker

• active off-ball mover

• keeps in-air body control even after a bump

Cons:

• struggles against contact and perimiter traps

• defensive liability

• questionable three point/overall jump shot versatility as a small guard

C: great backup/fringe starter

F: doesn't survive rookie contract

Solid jumper, is speedy and can create very well for his teammates and himself. Solid shooter. Isn't quite an NBA athlete.

NBA Comp: Collin Sexton

Darius Acuff Jr., 6'3, 190, PG, Arkansas, Fr.

• Comp: Gilbert Arenas / Tyrese Maxey / D'Angelo Russell

• Ceiling: ALL-NBA

• Floor: Bench

• Great scoring guard

• Solid defensively, nothing special but reliable

• Really good efficiency for his production level

• Very competitive

• Good at getting to his spots, whether that's a pull up or getting to the basket

• Great vision, good at reading defenses

• Can lose motivation

• He is explosive, but could greatly benefit from putting on some size

• Has a very good handle

• Expectation: ALL-STAR; He'll be a good offensive-based guard, but he'll struggle on defense because of his smaller stature and it'll prevent him from making a jump beyond ALL-STAR level

Strengths: Shooting, Great Scorer, Playmaking, Basketball IQ, Defense,

Weaknesses: Physicality, Can Over Dribble, Decision Making,

Draft Range/10-15, Role/Combo Guard, Ceiling/All NBA, Floor/Low End Starter, Expectation/Quality Starter, Position/G

no striking weaknesses

balance of a kyrie but not the shiftiness or creativity

comp tre mann

great shooter nice ball handling decent defense

not a bad build, not too small he can grow into it

not sure what spearates him from tre mann, bones, etc

Year: Freshman

2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 18.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 6.2 apg, 49% FG, 44% 3P

Acuff is an elite self-creating lead guard who can create his own shots at the rim and from behind the 3-point arc. One of the biggest concerns coming into his freshman year from scouts was his inconsistency from three. He has crushed expectations from beyond the arc out of the water, shooting 44% in out-of-conference play. Acuff has a great handle, and his playmaking has really proved to be as elite as it was advertised out of high school. One of his biggest problems as a recruit was his struggles with turnovers and sometimes having tunnel vision coming downhill. He has again proved against this so far this year, averaging only 1.9 turnovers a game compared to his 6.2 assists per game. Acuff is limited on the defensive side of the ball and can tend to struggle on that end. Doesn't really generate many steals or blocks, and is a limited perimeter defender as well. Acuff also has limited physical tools, with a reported 6'2'', 190-pound frame. Overall, Acuff is a good athlete with some of the best on-ball creating skills in this class, but struggles on the defensive end, and is a bit undersized.

Early Player Comp: Darius Garland

Best Team Fits: Mavericks, Bucks, Timberwolves

Versatile scoring guard STRENGTHS

• Very good shotmaker

• Attacks the rim well on drives and off screens

• Controlled ball handling skills

• Reads defenses well and makes smart passes

• Shows poise in big-game moments

• Good strength for his size

WEAKNESSES

• Negative defender - size and effort limit him

• Requires the ball in his hands to be effective

• Good but not great quickness and athleticism

• Efficiency can fluctuate - sometimes has poor shot selection

PLAYS LIKE: Deron Williams

RANGE: Late Lottery

Strengths:

• Tough shot maker

• Gets to the rim well for his size

• 43% from 3 on 5 attempts per game, some think it won't last but it is a positive for now

• 6 assists to 2 turnovers a game, good passer

Weaknesses:

• Not a very good defender

• Listed at 6'3, though might be closer to 6'2, and being a small guard is becoming difficult in the modern NBA

Floor: 82 Ceiling: 90 Average: 86