​John Calipari told anyone who would listen that NBA teams made a mistake in not drafting Meleek Thomas during the first round of the draft.It’s far too early to declare Calipari correct, but early indications support the Hall of Fame coach’s claim about the former Arkansas basketball star.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Razorbacks showcase has busted out at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas as Calipari’s three draft picks from earlier this summer have shown that they are ready for the professional ranks.Here’s a look at how Darius Acuff Jr., Thomas and Trevon Brazile have turned heads in the early stages of their NBA careers.1 / 59Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile (7) dunks in the first half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images(Craig Strobeck, Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images)Acuff had a mixed start at the Summer League. He put up decent numbers in the California Classic and through his first two games in Las Vegas, but he was inefficient and turning the ball over at a much higher rate than he did with Arkansas.Something clicked in his game against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, July 14. Acuff scored 26 points on 50% shooting and dished out five assists. He went 2 for 6 from 3-point range and got to the free-throw line six times, which were a game-high.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe still had too many mistakes with five turnovers, and the Kings lost 115-83, but Acuff is starting to get comfortable with the added pace and length from opposing defenders. He is averaging 19 points, 5.3 assists and one steal through three games.No player in Las Vegas made a bigger impression than Thomas. He leads the NBA Summer League by averaging 28.3 points, shooting 50% overall and 45.8% on 3-pointers. He’s also posting 4.3 assists, 4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.In the Cavaliers’ 90-73 win over the Miami Heat on Monday, July 13, Thomas poured in 35 points on 14-for-23 shooting. He went 5 for 9 on 3s and showed off his array of shot creation, mixing his long-distance firepower with floaters and jumpers from inside the paint.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThomas has scored 85 points through his first three NBA Summer League games, which are the most for a rookie in the event’s history. Damian Lillard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are second on the list with 83 points, and both of those players turned into prolific scorers in the NBA.Thomas never scored more than 30 points while he was at Arkansas. He’s now crossed that threshold twice with the Cavaliers. After his dominant performance against the Heat, Thomas was his usual humble self in the postgame interview with Amazon Prime.”First of all, we went 0-2 the first games. I’m big about winning. I just wanted to solidify the win, and I want to keep solidifying wins,” Thomas said. “It’s not about the points because I’m a team-or