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. made IMG Academy history as the highest draft pick in Ascender history after being taken No. 7 overall by the Sacramento Kings.
Acuff Jr., who was named a McDonald's All-American while at IMG, had a breakout freshman season at Arkansas, setting a program record for points (845) and ******* ists (232) by a freshman while being named SEC Player of the Year and tournament MVP.
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.
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. made IMG Academy history as the highest draft pick in Ascender history after being taken No. 7 overall by the Sacramento Kings.
Acuff Jr., who was named a McDonald's All-American while at IMG, had a breakout freshman season at Arkansas, setting a program record for points (845) and ******* ists (232) by a freshman while being named SEC Player of the Year and tournament MVP.
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.
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