March Madness: These 4 NBA Draft prospects will be interesting to watch in the Sweet 16

Every March Madness provides a stage for prospects to separate themselves. One good run and a late-first can become a late-lottery pick. One bad weekend and the question marks won’t go away. With the Sweet 16 set to begin on Thursday, here are four prospects — one from each bracket — that will be interesting to watch this weekend.

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West: Darius Acuff’s defense doesn’t change his draft slot

Watch Arkansas face off against Arizona on Thursday night and you’ll see Darius Acuff shapeshift. One possession, he’s snaking through a ball screen with that low dribble and impossible touch around the rim — full Kyrie mode. The next, he’s sprinting off a handoff and pulling up from the logo before the defense can even blink — full Dame mode. Then the other team inbounds the ball and he’s standing somewhere near half-court, watching his man curl off a screen on the other side of the floor — full Trae Young mode. It’s the most fascinating offensive package in college basketball attached to the most exhausting defensive effort.

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Anyone who’s watched Acuff knows about the defensive effort lapses, the awareness issues, and the size limitations at a generous 6-foot-3 that don’t go away. These are legitimate flags and they belong in every honest evaluation.

(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

But Saturday night showed why some scouts forgive those flaws. He scored 12 of Arkansas’ final 15 points and, with the game tied at 83 with three minutes left, Acuff went on a personal 7-0 run — with two layups and a 3-pointer from the wing with a minute left. He added two free throws with eight seconds remaining to close it at 94-88.

His 36-point night is the most by any Razorback in NCAA tournament history and broke the program’s single-season scoring record. He and Chris Paul are the only freshmen since 1973 to open their tournament careers with back-to-back 20-and-5 games. He has 60 points and 13 assists in two…

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Author : Kevin O'Connor

Publish date : 2026-03-24 17:54:00

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