Darius Acuff Jr. Scouting Report

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2026 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player’s development and draft outlook.

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 190 lbs

Birthdate: November 16, 2006

High School: IMG Academy (FL)

Darius Acuff is a tough scoring guard now at Arkansas, where he will be asked to play a major role right away. At 6’3” with a strong frame and plus length, he’s equipped to thrive getting downhill and creating his own offense. Acuff plays with confidence and poise, operating at his own pace, and consistently dictates the tempo with the ball in his hands. He’s capable of breaking down defenders in isolation, creating through pick-and-roll actions, and making tough shots off the dribble. His strength and body control allow him to finish through contact at the rim, while his shot-making extends comfortably into the midrange and beyond. Although wired to score, he possesses the handle, vision, and feel to create for teammates when he engages as a facilitator. Defensively, Acuff displays toughness and uses his strength to his advantage. His lateral quickness is good, but not elite. His combination of scoring instincts, toughness, and confidence makes him a legitimate NBA prospect.

• Downhill Scoring: Attacks with force and control, consistently pressuring the rim. Uses his strength and body positioning to finish through contact.

• Shot Creation: Tough shot-maker with a polished midrange game, floater package, and the ability to score off the dribble. Can make contested jumpers in tight windows.

• Pick-and-Roll Poise: Reads defenses well, manipulates angles, and finds ways to get into gaps.

• Ball Handling and Pace: Advanced handle with a variety of counters. Changes speeds effectively and controls tempo without getting sped up.

• Playmaking Ability: Not a pure point, but has vision and can generate offense for others out of penetration or ball screens.

• Competitiveness: Plays with confidence and edge, embraces big-game moments, and carries himself like a go-to option.

• Physical Profile: He’s not tiny, but leans more toward the smaller side for an NBA guard. Relies more on physical toughness and craft than elite explosiveness.

  Efficiency: High-volume scorer who can settle for difficult shots. Needs to improve shot selection and ability to generate cleaner looks.

• Perimeter Shooting Consistency: Capable from deep, but streaky. Mechanics and volume suggest he still needs refinement as a reliable three-point shooter.

• Lead Guard Development: Wired to score first — still working on balancing shot creation with consistent playmaking. Can over-dribble at times.

• Attitude and Approach: Has shown tendencies to display poor body language and a selective motor. When engaged, he’s tough and competitive, but his effort level isn’t always consistent.

• Can Acuff develop his perimeter shooting into a consistent, reliable weapon at the NBA level?

• Will he improve his efficiency by balancing scoring with facilitating and cleaner shot selection?

• How much will his lack of elite burst or verticality impact his finishing against NBA rim protectors, especially given his 6’3” size?

• Can he defend NBA-caliber guards consistently at a high level?

Darius Acuff is a confident, downhill guard who thrives as a scorer and playmaker with the ball in his hands. His physicality, shot-making, and control of tempo give him the profile of a lead guard capable of taking over stretches of a game. Questions remain about his efficiency, shooting consistency, and defensive translation, but his toughness and overall skill package make him one of the more intriguing guard prospects in this draft. His ceiling will ultimately be defined by how much he can refine his game to complement his natural scoring instincts, but his strengths give him a real chance to succeed at the next level.