NBA Mock Draft: 12 biggest risers and fallers from the NCAA Tournament
Jarace Walker – Slightly rising
As a prospect that has emerged as a unanimous top-10 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jarace Walker is somewhat of an underrated player. He wasn’t a primary scorer or playmaker for Houston this season but was extremely important to nearly everything they did on the court, on both the offense and defense. And that’s what you have to like most about Walker’s game at this point in his progression.
Walker averaged 11 points and seven rebounds on 46 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range. He didn’t have an outstanding showing in the NCAA Tournament when it comes to his counting stats but the platform alone should help raise his draft stock as his impact was more evident on a wider scale.
The big question is how good Walker can be at the next level. The great thing about Walker is that I’m not sure there’s anything that he “can’t do” on the floor. He can score in the paint and his shooting range extends to the 3-point line. He has the potential to be a good and versatile defender as well.
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He’s athletic and has a nose for the basketball – he averaged one block and one steal per game this season too. I’d have to think that he probably ends up being a top 5 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft because of everything he can do for a team on the floor.