Arkansas phenom Darius Acuff Jr. showcases scoring prowess and playmaking vision, drawing comparisons to elite NBA guards. Will he be Brooklyn's next star?
On Wednesday, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie released his updated NBA mock draft, which has the Nets selecting Arkansas freshman point guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the sixth pick.
After finishing the season with one of the three worst records in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets hold a 14-percent chance at the No. 1 overall selection, with a 52.1-percent chance of landing in the top four.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa seemingly has separated himself as the clear favorite to go No. 1, but this year's draft class is one of the deepest in recent memory, with talented options throughout the lottery.
But, after Dybantsa, there are countless talented guard prospects like Kingston Flemings, Acuff and Keaton Wagler.
"Acuff earned first-team All-America status by dominating games down the stretch. Over his final 13 games, he averaged an absurd 28 points per game and 6.7 assists while getting to the line 7.5 times per game," Vecenie wrote. "He was efficient and sharp, shooting 48 percent from the field and over 40 percent from 3."
Acuff is the latest highly regarded prospect to enter the draft after playing under head coach John Calipari, who has tutored elite guards like John Wall, Jamal Murray and De'Aaron Fox.
"Acuff might be the most polished freshman guard prospect I’ve ever evaluated. His footwork and balance are pristine, and he tends to make efficient decisions," Vecenie wrote."He plays off two feet and moves well without the ball to set up his on-ball moves. His passes are always crisp and on-target, even if his vision isn’t always elite."
NetsRoundtable's Lorenzo Reyna wrote an in-depth draft profile on Acuff in mid-April, highlighting what makes him so special.
"Acuff dropped 28 on the Arizona Wildcats despite taking the lopsided loss. He poured 30 on SEC rival Vanderbilt during the conference tournament. Acuff lit up another March Madness SEC team in Alabama by dropping 49 points. He even scored 29 on Elite Eight representative Tennessee," Reyna wrote. "Scoring at will on the big stage is no problem for Acuff. Should add he dropped 24 and 36 against Hawai'i and High Point, respectively, during the NCAA Tournament."
Acuff's a true 3-level scorer, possessing the ability to find and create an open shot from anywhere on the court.
After collecting 28 points and 13 assists against Texas, Longhorns coach Sean Miller called Acuff a "generational player."
"In my time -- and I'll just go 34 years -- I've never seen a point guard better," Miller said. "People talk about who's going to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft or who's the best player in the conference. ... This No. 1 pick thing, I don't know why people aren't talking about him more. I can't imagine anybody better."
With all of this high praise for Acuff, Vecenie raised some concerns related to his size and defensive struggles.
"Even though Acuff is stocky and strong, he’s easily the worst defender among the top-10 prospects," Vecenie wrote. "He struggles to get through screens and shows a lack of off-ball engagement too regularly. Of course, in the NBA, volatile scorers like Acuff can overcome defensive struggles with lighting up the offensive end, but he will need to improve defensively in order to stay on the court and out of foul trouble.
After making an NBA-record five first-round picks last draft, the Nets are still looking for their lead guard of the future.
Acuff would instantly fill that role, possessing the ability to score at a high clip and get his teammates involved.
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