With the Bulls holding the No. 4 and No. 15 picks in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, most fans and media outlets project Chicago to select one of AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. However, there's another name Bulls fans should start getting familiar with: Darius Acuff Jr.
The stage is set: June 23rd, Barclays Center, 8 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls are on the clock — the pick is in. Is it AJ Dybansta? Darryn Peterson? Cameron Boozer? Caleb Wilson? While most expect the Bulls to choose one of these consensus top prospects, there’s a real possibility that Chicago pivots and selects Darius Acuff Jr. instead.
Feb 7, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) reacts after a basket during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesShock The World
New Bulls EVP Bryson Graham has made it abundantly clear that he won’t hesitate to acquire players he believes in, even if his moves initially upset the fanbase. During an interview with Bulls insider K.C. Johnson and host Camron Smith on the “By The Horns” podcast, Graham revealed that his favorite player — outside of Michael Jordan — is Allen Iverson.
The Good Kind Of "AI"
If there’s anyone in this draft who most closely resembles Allen Iverson’s game, it’s Acuff. At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he may not meet the “size” and “length” elements of Graham’s S.L.A.P. mantra, but he absolutely brings athleticism, physicality and intangible traits.
With elite speed, dynamic and explosive moves off the dribble and a deep offensive bag that he says he hasn’t even fully opened yet, Acuff would bring a skill set to Chicago unseen at the point guard position since the Derrick Rose era.
As a freshman, the star point guard averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting the lights out of the gym. He posted shooting splits of 48.4% from the field, a blistering 44.0% from three-point range and 80.9% from the free throw line. It’s not just about the numbers, though; it’s the way that he got them.
The Arkansas Razorback proved to be nearly unstoppable on the offensive end, punishing opposing defenses from all three levels of the court on a nightly basis. Although his team didn’t win it all, the freshman made undeniable waves in the SEC and ended the season with an impressive résumé and a deep list of accomplishments. With awards like SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-SEC, the Bob Cousy Award, Consensus First-Team All-American and many more, Acuff showed that winning is what he does, and he does it well.
Mar 15, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) receives the MVP trophy from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey during the men's SEC Conference Tournament Championship at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesHigh Risk, High Reward
While Acuff is a tantalizing prospect, many mocks have him slotted to go anywhere from picks 5 to 10. Selecting him over players like Wilson, Boozer, Dybansta, and Peterson could be seen as a significant reach. Acuff is far from a perfect player. While his offensive production screams “superstar,” his defensive deficiencies leave a lot to be desired. As currently constructed, the last thing this Bulls team needs is more offense or undersized guards. But with a changing of the guard in the order and a new regime in place, the Arkansas superstar might be exactly the kind of dynamic guard this team needs to build around.
