NEW YORK – Sacramento added one of the draft’s top playmakers Tuesday night in Darius Acuff Jr., and the Kings’ newest guard made sure to credit Detroit for where his journey began.
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Moments after his name was called, Acuff pointed back to his hometown as the experience that best prepared him for basketball’s biggest stage.
“Most definitely, growing up in Detroit more than anything prepared me for this moment,” Acuff Jr. said during his post-draft media availability. “I just came a long way. It’s been a dream come true to be here. Everything I went through in life, it matters. It brought me to this moment.”
Acuff, a 6’3” point guard and Detroit native, said he is eager to begin his career in Sacramento after navigating months of pre-draft speculation.
“I’m excited to be a King. That’s all I’m focused on,” Acuff Jr. said.
The 19-year-old said he plans to bring energy and a winning mentality as he works to establish an immediate role as a rookie.
“I’m just trying to come in and change the organization,” Acuff Jr. said. “Definitely excited to play with those guys and be with the organization.”
Acuff enters the NBA after a decorated freshman season at Arkansas under coach John Calipari.
He was a consensus first-team All-American, the Bob Cousy Award winner, and the SEC Player of the Year, emerging as one of the nation’s most dynamic scorers and playmakers.
Acuff Jr. averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game, paced the SEC in scoring and assists, and shot 44% from three-point range.
Acuff also set single-season Arkansas records for points (845) and assists (232), and became only the second player in SEC history to lead the league in both scoring and assists in the same season, joining Pete Maravich.
Acuff Jr. said he believes he can build on that success at the next level.
“I’m definitely trying to continue it, trying to continue to be great,” Acuff Jr. said. “Just trying to come in and win.”
His biggest performances came on major stages. He scored 49 points against Alabama in a double-overtime loss Feb. 18, a freshman record and the most ever by an Arkansas player in an SEC game.
In the NCAA Tournament, he had 36 points in a win over High Point and averaged 29.8 points over six tournament games as the Razorbacks advanced to the Sweet 16.
While the accolades and production vaulted him into the lottery, Acuff said draft night also was about representing Detroit. The former Cass Technical standout, who later transferred to IMG Academy, credited the city for shaping his mindset.
“Growing up in Detroit more than anything prepared me for this moment,” Acuff Jr. said. “It brought me to this moment, so I’m excited.”