Cunningham: What Darius Acuff Jr.’s Sacramento visit means

The Sacramento Kings’ interest in Darius Acuff Jr. appears to be more than speculation.

According to KCRA 3’s Sean Cunningham, the former Arkansas star recently made a private visit to Sacramento as the Kings continue their preparations ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Cunningham joined Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show to provide additional details on the report, noting that he learned earlier in the week that Acuff would be making the trip.

“I’d kind of heard the same thing about [Illinois guard] Keaton Wagler, and even [Houston guard Kingston] Flemings coming through Sacramento,” Cunningham said. “At some point, you know these guys will come through, likely probably will have them as private workouts.”

While Cunningham wasn’t certain which day the workout took place, the visit itself further strengthens the connection between Sacramento and one of the top guards in the draft class.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 26: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks shoots a free throw against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

Darius Acuff Jr. is coming off a sensational freshman season at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from three-point range.

His dominant campaign earned him SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors, establishing him as one of the most accomplished prospects available.

Cunningham emphasized that for lottery-caliber players, the workout itself is often secondary to the face-to-face interactions.

“Most guys that are projected that high typically don’t even work out,” Cunningham explained. “It’s literally just kind of spending time with the organization.”

According to Cunningham, Kings general manager Scott Perry places a premium on learning about prospects beyond what appears on film.

According to sources, former Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. worked out for the Kings in Sacramento last week. It was not publicized and there was no media availability following his workout.

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) June 15, 2026

“Getting to know players from a one-on-one standpoint, see what their ecosystems are like, what their work habits are like, what they’re all about, is really the intel you’re looking to gather the most,” Cunningham said. “What they put on film and the statistics they put into a box score, you already kind of really know.”

Darius Acuff has drawn criticism from some evaluators regarding his defense, particularly after recent comments made during an interview with Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green.

Cunningham, however, appreciated the honesty.

“My take is I admire the honesty,” Cunningham said. “I’m not a person who thinks that somebody with a work ethic like Darius Acuff could be just an absolute abomination when it comes to defense.”

Darius Acuff talks defense and guarding his matchup with Draymond

“You can ask any of my coaches in college, no matter how many defensive mistakes I made every night, if they tried to put me on a 2 or a 3, I’m like ‘man I’m not guarding no 3, I play the point man, I’m guarding… pic.twitter.com/SolK0OeACq

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) June 10, 2026

He added, “That’s an 18, 19-year-old kid that played one year of college, so defining anybody by an answer he gives in an interview or what he put on tape, you have to keep an open mind.”

With the Kings holding the seventh overall pick and Sacramento repeatedly linked to the Arkansas standout throughout the pre-draft process, Acuff’s visit only adds to the growing belief that he remains firmly on the organization’s radar heading into draft night.

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show with Matt George & Kayla Anderson, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.

Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.

Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors, and MUCH more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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