NBA Draft expert impressed by Acuff, Sharp during California Classic

After an up-and-down California Classic debut, Darius Acuff Jr. is already showing many of the traits that made him the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Speaking with Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show, No Ceilings draft analyst Nick Agar-Johnson said Acuff’s performance against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday was a perfect example of the maturity and adaptability that helped him become one of college basketball’s biggest stars last season.

Acuff entered the NBA after a remarkable freshman campaign at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc.

The SEC Player of the Year and Consensus All-American struggled early in his Summer League debut, finishing the California Classic opener shooting 9-of-29 from the field and 1-of-9 from three, but Agar-Johnson believes the overall performance was far more encouraging than the numbers suggest.

“It was very much a tale of two halves,” Agar-Johnson said. “The first quarter, he was settling for a lot of jumpers, but he started to settle down after that first quarter.”

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

As Darius Acuff Jr. became more aggressive attacking the paint, everything else followed.

The new Kings franchise guard went six-for-15 (40%) in the second half and handed out all five of his assists after the start of the third quarter.

“Once he started getting those lanes in the second quarter, he was charging after them,” Agar-Johnson said. “That was how he got the lanes that he ended up getting in the fourth quarter to make plays for others.”

The draft expert pointed to Acuff’s late-game decision-making as one of the biggest positives, including an alley-oop assist to Jonathan Mogbo and his kick-out pass to Nique Clifford for the game-winning triple.

Agar-Johnson was equally impressed by Acuff’s mindset after the game, noting the rookie was more concerned with creating opportunities for teammates than celebrating his scoring output.

“The fact that he immediately was on himself about the playmaking part of it when he scored 25 points in his NBA debut, it’s pretty special to see from a young point guard,” Agar-Johnson said. “That’s the kind of mentality that you want to see from a franchise point guard.”

While Darius Acuff Jr. remains the centerpiece of Sacramento’s rookie class, second-round pick Emanuel Sharp continues to make a strong impression.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 04: Emanuel Sharp #34 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Golden 1 Center on July 04, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Sharp has scored in double figures in both California Classic games while providing relentless perimeter defense. Agar-Johnson believes the former Houston guard could eventually develop into a player who fills a role similar to former Kings guard Keon Ellis.

“I think the role is very much the same,” Agar-Johnson said. “Come in, play defense, get open, hit your three-pointers and just bring that consistent energy night after night. You can absolutely check a ton of the same boxes that Keon Ellis checked for the Kings.”

With Darius Acuff flashing his offensive upside and Sharp already carving out a defensive identity, Sacramento’s young backcourt has given Kings fans plenty of reasons for optimism heading into Las Vegas Summer League.

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.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

With the California Classic in the rearview mirror, Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings will head to the desert for the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, with action set to tip off Thursday night at UNLV.

Sacramento is set to face the fifth-overall pick, Keaton Wagler, and the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

Be sure to remain locked into Sactown Sports for your Sacramento Kings Summer League news, analysis, and much more!

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• Thursday, July 9th – Sunday, July 19th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League
• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

2026 Sacramento Kings Las Vegas Summer League Schedule

• Thursday, July 9: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, July 12: vs. Washington Wizards (5 p.m. PT)
• Tuesday, July 14: vs. Brooklyn Nets (3 p.m. PT)
• Wednesday, July 15: vs. Boston Celtics (5 p.m. PT)
• Final game TBD

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