AJ Dybantsa is one of the best-rated NBA draft prospects playing this year but in hindsight, there lies another player who has captivated the attention of former Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins.
Dybantsa recently had a big game on Saturday against Utah, dropping 43 points to improve his season average to 23.6 points per game on 55% shooting after 19 games. The same night, Arkansas head coach John Calipari’s guard Darius Acuff Jr. also had a massive game, posting 31 points on 13-19 shooting from the field, including 4-7 from the 3-point line.
On Monday, during his appearance on NBA ESPN, Perkins picked his five best freshmen from the 2025-26 college basketball season. This includes Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Acuff Jr. and Caleb Wilson. But among the lot, the player who has won Perkins over is Acuff Jr.
“The guy that sticks out to me the most in this top five is Darius A. Acuff Jr., right?” Perkins said. “I call him Mr. Wi-Fi because when he’s around, your signal just gets stronger. And it’s getting stronger down there in Arkansas. What he’s doing right now under John Calipari — he may be one of the, if not the best guards that Cal has ever had. Averaging 20 points on 50% shooting, 42% from three, and six assists a game, making the guys around him better.”
Perkins also shared his draft prediction on Acuff Jr.
“If I’m looking for a point guard, he’s the first point guard — he’s the top point guard in this year’s draft. And I’m drafting him as the top point guard. He should be a top-10 lottery pick,” Perkins added.
NBA Draft Projection for AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr.
Most draft boards list AJ Dybantsa as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, often who could be picked inside the top 3 selections. ESPN 2026 Draft rankings place Dybantsa No. 2 overall, right behind Darryn Peterson.
Meanwhile, Acuff Jr. is not in the top five of every draft board. ESPN’s Draft Big Board lists him around No. 16 overall among prospects. He is projected as a mid- to late-first-round pick.
Therefore, his projection is still not firm, but the way he’s performing lately, it won’t be a surprise if he climbs those mock draft boards in the coming games.
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