Sacramento leverages deep personal ties and collegiate dominance to bolster its roster, eyeing an offensive powerhouse at seventh overall alongside a versatile forward and a Big East champion.
The NBA draft is a little over month away, and mock drafts are ramping up, as Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor dropped his newest mock on Monday with detailed descriptions for each selection.
The Sacramento Kings has three picks -- No. 7, No. 34 and No. 45 -- and could leave the draft with impactful additions despite failing to land within the top four in the May 10 lottery reveal.
KingsRoundtable will focus on the prospects O'Connor projects Sacramento to draft on June 24-25.
No. 7: Darius Acuff Jr., Guard, Arkansas
O'Connor said sources around the league believe the Kings will draft Acuff Jr. because of various personal factors alongside on-court talent.
General manager Scott Perry and assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong were born in Detroit, Michigan, the same birthplace as Acuff Jr. Jake Elman of the KingsRoundtable also highlighted that Perry coached Acuff Jr.'s father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s.
Acuff Jr. is an offensive powerhouse, blending scoring and playmaking to leave his impact on the game. He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 48.4/44/80.9 shooting splits at Arkansas.
The 6-foot-3 guard can score at all three levels, using his dribble moves to create enough space for a jumpshot or a tough layup at the rim. He fights through contact to get to his spots, resulting in a high free-throw rate.
No. 34: Amari Allen, Forward, Alabama
O'Connor highlighted a concern and a strength about Allen's role at Alabama. He was a third option for the Crimson Tide, which either limits his ceilings or makes him an excellent do-it-all fit for NBA teams.
Allen is a solid rebounder for his 6-foot-8 frame -- grabbing 6.9 rebounds during his freshman campaign. He also showcased some defensive versatility, and Matthew Feldman of the KingsRoundtable noted in his profile about Allen that he plays with an intensity that could backfire on him.
No. 45: Zuby Ejiofor, Forward, St. John's
O'Connor has the Kings drafting Ejiofor, who had a stellar senior campaign under coach Rick Pitino.
Ejiofor is fresh off winning the unanimous Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP.
The 6-foot-9 forward runs the floor hard in transition and can attack the baseline in the post either facing up or spinning off his defender's momentum. He averaged 16.3 points, including back-to-back 20-point games in the Big East tournament.
His defensive prowess is a highlight of his game, as he recorded 2.1 blocks per game and is a strong rebounder, grabbing 7.3 rebounds.
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