Acres attended Palos Verdes High School in Palos Verdes Estates, California, and was selected as a Parade All-American and played in the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game.

[1] Acres played college basketball for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles under his father Dick,[2] and alongside his brother Jeff.

[3] He was selected as the Midwestern City Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore in 1983.

[4] The Mavericks trialled Acres during summer camp but convinced him to play professionally in Europe for development.

[5] Acres was inducted into the Oral Roberts University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.