It's not often a player coming off averages of 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks considers himself an NBA draft prospect.
But that's what Chris Walker sees himself as, with the sophomore deciding last week to eschew a junior season at Florida to turn pro, declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Leaving the ville , but I Will never forget the memories and the great people I met on that campus I'll cherish the memories for a lifetime
— SkyCHief (@kingsky23) April 26, 2015
Walker's had a tough two years with the Gators, failing to make the most of a 6-foot-10 frame and the potential that made him a top-10 recruit coming out of high school in 2013.
His name was previously spoken in the same breath as Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle and Jabari Parker, but after two moribund seasons, the bloom is off the rose.
His decision to skip a third college season has come under some criticism, with Dick Vitale taking to Twitter to question the move.
Amazed @ decision to enter draft by Chris Walker-Pls show me what he has done as a Gator-I must have missed it @gatorhoops @UFCoachBillyD
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 25, 2015
Vitale isn't alone. Back on Dec. 31, ESPN draft guru Chad Ford wrote the following:
Walker is still primarily living off his rep coming out of high school. He's an elite athlete who hasn't found his game yet. He's probably better off going back to school for another year, but should he declare, someone could take a flier on him in the late first round.
Little has changed since that time, and Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports was likewise skeptical of Walker's timing:
In my opinion, he would have been better off transferring away from Florida and starting new somewhere else rather than entering the NBA draft. He may get invited to the NBA Draft Combine in May, and there's a chance he'll get drafted late in the second round simply based on his length and perceived athleticism. But the tape on him tells a pretty different story, and it's tough to see him overcoming the complete and utter lack of production we've seen from him over the course of the past two years in the next two months before the draft.
Despite the somewhat dark cloud around Walker's status, he remains a good bet to get drafted in the second round. He has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and solid shot-blocking instincts, plays way above the rim in transition and has shown the makings of an outside jump shot. Still just 20, Walker is exactly the type of player who could raise his stock significantly in pre-draft workouts.
ESPN has Walker ranked as the No. 58 prospect and DraftExpress has him at No. 73, so he's in the discussion for a draft pick already.
He's probably worth a flier, particularly for a team that has an exclusive D-League affiliate and can give Walker the proper developmental time and attention to try to get the most out of his considerable potential.
