IMG Academy is known as an athletic talent factory, and there are few sports that is truer for than men’s basketball. The Ascenders constantly see their alumni walk the stage on draft night, and the 2026 NBA draft was no different.
IMG Academy had two former Ascenders taken in the first round of this year’s NBA draft, the third time since 2023.
Darius Acuff Jr. to Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. made IMG Academy history as the highest draft pick in Ascenders history after being taken No. 7 overall by the Sacramento Kings.
Acuff Jr., named a McDonald’s All-American while at IMG, had a breakout freshman season at Arkansas, setting a program record for points (845) and assists (232) by a freshman while being named SEC Player of the Year and tournament MVP.
Alex Karaban to Cleveland Cavaliers, then to Sacramento
Cleveland went on to take Alex Karaban No. 29 overall out of UConn before trading the pick to Sacramento. It’s the first time two Ascenders have been taken by the same team in the same round of the NBA draft. Karaban posted 132 PPG and 5.3 RPG as a senior at UConn after winning back-to-back national championships his freshman and sophomore seasons.
With Acuff Jr. and Karaban’s selections, IMG Academy has now seen 14 alums taken in the first round of the NBA draft. At least one Ascender has been taken in 10 of the last 11 drafts.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Darius Acuff, Alex Karaban latest IMG Academy alums picked in NBA draft
Reporting by Nick Wilson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nick Wilson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
