Key Takeaways
- Darius Acuff Jr. went No. 7 overall to the Sacramento Kings, the highest NBA Draft pick in IMG Academy basketball history.
- Acuff and Alex Karaban (No. 29) both landed with Sacramento, the first time two IMG alumni joined the same franchise in one first round.
- Three players drafted in 2026 push IMG’s total since 2020 to 23 NBA selections, 14 of them in the first round.
- IMG counts 15 active alumni in the NBA and recently expanded to eight basketball courts under one roof in Bradenton.
A Record Draft Night for IMG Academy Basketball
The 2026 NBA Draft produced the most decorated night in IMG Academy basketball history. Point guard Darius Acuff Jr. heard his name called at No. 7 by the Sacramento Kings, the highest selection the program has ever produced. Sacramento returned to the IMG pipeline later in the first round, taking forward Alex Karaban at No. 29. It marked the first time two IMG alumni were drafted by the same franchise in a single first round.
A third alum, guard Jaden Bradley, went No. 50 to the Toronto Raptors in the second round, giving IMG three selections in 2026.
Acuff Resets the Program Record
Acuff’s No. 7 selection broke the mark previously held by Jarace Walker, the No. 8 pick by Washington. He becomes the 13th IMG alumnus drafted in the first round.
His climb was fast. After transferring to IMG to begin his junior year, Acuff averaged 20.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, earned a five-star rating and a top-10 national ranking in the 2025 class, and was named a McDonald’s All-American. As an Arkansas freshman, he set single-season program records for points (845) and assists (232) while taking SEC Player of the Year and SEC Tournament MVP honors. He is the first IMG alum drafted out of Arkansas.
Karaban and Bradley Round Out the Class
Karaban, the 14th IMG alum picked in the first round, arrived in Sacramento after a decorated run at UConn. He won back-to-back national titles, reached three title games in four years, and scored 1,880 career points. He is UConn’s all-time leader in career wins and the first men’s player inducted into the Huskies of Honor. Karaban is the second IMG alum drafted from UConn, following DeAndre Daniels in 2014.
Bradley became the 23rd IMG player drafted and the fifth guard in program history to be selected. After a freshman season at Alabama, he transferred to Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to their first Big 12 regular-season title in 2025-26. He is the second IMG alum drafted from Arizona, following Josh Green in 2020.
A Pipeline Built on Facilities and Track Record
The 2026 class marks the third year IMG has produced multiple first-round picks, joining 2023 and 2024. Since 2020, the program has delivered 23 total draft selections and 14 first-round picks, with at least one alum chosen in 10 of the past 11 drafts.
IMG currently has 15 active alumni in the NBA and has produced 17 McDonald’s All-Americans across its boys and girls programs. This spring, 43 alumni competed in the 2026 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournaments.
The results follow continued investment in the Bradenton campus. IMG recently opened five new courts, expanding its basketball footprint to eight under one roof.
“Watching Darius and Alex hear their names called in the first round is a tremendous moment for both of them and for everyone who has been part of their journey,” said Mike Gillian, Director of Basketball at IMG Academy.
Source: IMG Academy press release, June 25, 2026
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