Darius Acuff Jr Sparks Arkansas Mock Draft Surge

Bleacher Report tweaked its 2026 draft board ahead of March Madness, with Darius Acuff Jr. rising to No. 6 after a 30.3-point, 7.7-assist SEC tournament run. The update also shuffled the second tier of freshman guards, dropped injured or inefficient names, and underscored how little margin for error exists in a deep class. Merlin sees teams chasing reliability. Acuff’s clutch feel, strong shooting splits (50.5 percent off the catch, 39.5 percent off the dribble) and "poise and maturity" give him a lift despite size concerns. Older or hurt prospects like Jayden Quaintance and Neoklis Avdalas slid, while energetic role pieces such as Zuby Ejiofor and veteran redeemer Duke Miles could climb as safety picks.