Sacramento Kings widely projected to pick this player in pre-lottery mock drafts
Sunday’s NBA draft lottery could change everything, but many analysts seem to agree the Sacramento Kings will select Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 5 if they maintain their pre-lottery position.
ESPN, USA Today, NBADraft.net, NBADraftRoom.com and CBSSports.com all have the Kings selecting Acuff with the fifth pick in their latest mock drafts.
Acuff, 19, is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound point guard who averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists while leading Arkansas to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He was remarkably efficient, shooting 48.4% from the field, 44% from 3-point range and 80.9% at the free-throw line.
Acuff was even better during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 29.3 points per game. He scored 36 points in a second-round win over High Point.
NBADraft.net lists Acuff’s NBA comparison as Tim Hardaway, noting that he has “a sturdy build and nice length and strength for his position.”
NBADraftRoom.com offered the following assessment during Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament run: “Acuff Jr. is a baller, a winner and a big time shot-maker who plays with a ton of confidence. He’s been sensational in league play and so far in the tournament and his draft stock is moving up. He’s not the biggest guy and isn’t a great defender but plays with toughness and is unstoppable on the offensive end.”
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo provided a similar appraisal.
“Excitement around Acuff crested in March, with a torrid stretch elevating his draft status and positioning him for a potential leap into the top five,” Woo wrote. “Opinions around the NBA vary on where he stacks up amid a very talented guard class — there is curiosity around how he’ll measure physically at the combine, but little doubt he has the chops to help run a team next season. There is an expectation that Acuff will need to be insulated defensively on a winning team, but he is a highly skilled and the most polished point guard in the class.
“This is a critical draft for the Kings, considering the state of the current roster and the desperate need for a younger player to help transition into the next iteration of the team. Sacramento looks like a friendly landing spot for any of the top guards. Acuff would instantly help elevate their offense and establish a new identity for the team moving forward.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Sacramento Kings widely projected to pick this player in pre-lottery mock drafts."
