Bill Walker: NBA Draft Profile

Bill Walker

College: Kansas State

Class: Freshman

Position: SG/SF

Height:   6’6”

Weight:  220lbs

Accolades:  Third Team Freshman All-American – CHN (08), Third Team All-Big 12 (08), Big 12 All-Rookie Team (08), Second Team All-American – Parade – high school (06), First Team USA Today All-USA High School Boys’ Basketball All-Junior Team (06), Three-Time MVP Reebok ABCD Camp – high school.

Scouting Report: A jumping jack able to play inside or out.

Strengths:  Crazy leaper – can jump out of the gym.  Brings a toughness/aggressiveness to the court.  Can play wing or post.  Good, strong body.  Great slasher – can break down his man off the dribble.  Three-point range on his jumper.  Good rebounder for a wing player.  Capable of explosive scoring games – topped 30-points three times this season. 

Weaknesses:   Off-the-court questions.  Needs to improve his ball handling to play the wing in the NBA.  Injury concerns – torn ACL twice.  Foul prone.  Turns the ball over too much.  Very inconsistent.  Shoots the three for a poor percentage.  Poor shot selection.  Settles for three-pointers too often.  Always been just a complementary player (played with O.J. Mayo in high school, Michael Beasley in college).    

Projected 2008 Draft Range:  Early to mid second round pick.

Consensus:  Bill Walker’s star has taken an even bigger dive than his buddy, O.J. Mayo’s.  Since he currently isn’t considered a first round prospect, Walker should go back to Manhattan in the fall and prove that he has what it takes to be the lead man for the Wildcats. 

Stats:  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=34658

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues