By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. was taken No. 7 by the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night in Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Acuff, 6-3, 185, landed where he has been rumored for a few weeks. Acuff had ties to Sacramento GM Scott Perry. His father, Darius Acuff Sr., played at Eastern Kentucky for Perry. Acuff sent a message to the Sacrament fans following getting drafted.

“I heard you guys are some of the best fans in the league," Acuff told Asia Cymone Smith. "I can’t wait to experience that energy.”

Perry also was elated to land the player he had targeted throughout the draft process.

"The new era in Sacramento continues," Perry told Smith.

In his lone season at Arkansas, Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.8 steals, shot 48.4% from the field, 44.0% from 3-point line and 80.9% from the free throw line. Acuff is the 63rd draft pick for John Calipari. Acuff became the 30th lottery pick coached by Calipari which in the nation's most in history. His coach at Arkansas praised him on the SEC Network.

"He was mad if I ever subbed him," Calipari said. "If he was hurt played anyway."

The Athletic graded the Acuff pick as a B with John Hollinger explaining the grade.

"Acuff has Damian Lillard-esque upside as an offensive player, and the Kings desperately need a guy like this at the controls, one who could potentially be a one-man offense if everything breaks right," Hollinger said. "I’d just like his odds of hitting better if it were any other organization that took him."

While the news was good for Acuff, but freshman guard Meleek Thomas didn't hear his name called on Tuesday. He and forward Trevon Brazile should be among the early picks in Round 2 on Wednesday night.