Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. explained that John Calipari’s history of developing NBA guards was one of the main reasons he decided to attend Arkansas before entering the professional ranks.
Acuff, who was selected seventh overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, pointed to Calipari’s success with players such as Derrick Rose and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both of whom went on to win NBA MVP awards.
The young guard credited Calipari and assistant coach Ronald “Chin” Coleman for convincing him to join the Razorbacks, explaining that the opportunity to learn from a coach with such an extensive NBA track record was difficult to turn down.
“It was all Cal. I credit Coach Chin too, assistant coach [Ronald] Chin Coleman. It was them two for sure. The guards, seeing that history, it’s hard to pass that up. He got I think two MVPs now with Derrick Rose and Shai.”
Rose played under Calipari at Memphis before becoming the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He later won the MVP award with the Chicago Bulls in 2011.
Gilgeous-Alexander spent one season under Calipari at Kentucky before entering the NBA in 2018. He eventually developed into one of the league’s top players, winning the MVP award with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.
Beyond those two stars, Calipari has coached numerous guards who became successful NBA players, including John Wall, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Tyler Herro, and Tyrese Maxey.
Acuff was particularly impressed that some of those players became high draft picks despite relatively modest scoring averages during their college careers.
He believed that Calipari’s ability to prepare players for the NBA was more important than simply putting up impressive individual statistics.
“Seeing all them guys make it to the NBA. Some guys they averaged 13, 14 points and they top 5, top 10 picks. So seeing the history behind that and like I said earlier, Cal, he’s not just a coach, he’s a great guy off the court. He look out for you in real life. That was the biggest thing for me. That relationship was different from anybody else.”
Acuff also emphasized that his relationship with Calipari extended beyond basketball. He appreciated the coach’s willingness to support his players personally and help them prepare for life outside the sport.
That connection helped separate Arkansas from the other programs pursuing him, alongside Calipari’s reputation for developing future NBA talent.
Several of Calipari’s former guards have gone on to establish themselves as NBA stars, while others have secured significant roles across the league.
Booker, for example, was selected 13th overall in 2015 after averaging 10.0 points at Kentucky. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points before being selected 11th overall in 2018.
Calipari’s list of former guards also includes Tyreke Evans, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Malik Monk, and Cason Wallace.
Acuff ultimately followed a similar path, spending his college career at Arkansas before becoming a top-10 NBA draft pick.
