Aaron Brecheisen
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- Feb 16, 2018
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Lonnie Walker IV will be in the green room with the UM coaching staff at the 2018 NBA Draft, held at the Barclays Center on Thursday.
Walker averaged 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 34.6 percent from 3-point range in 27.8 minutes per game for the Hurricanes last season as a true freshman, earning him ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
He also made the 2018 ACC All-Academic Team and is constantly feeding his thirst to learn about almost every aspect of life.
He raised eyebrows at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last month.
Walker has gained muscle and strength since he declared for the draft in early April. Now that basketball is his full-time job, he has been focusing on ball handling and shooting during his daily training regimen and it has been showing.
“It’s kind of scary,” Walker said. “I’m a greater player now than I was when I was at Miami. I would destroy that old Lonnie Walker.”
With a versatile game and a variety of interests, Walker will certainly be hot commodity in the first round.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 196 pounds
Wingspan: 6’10”
Max Vertical Jump: 40 inches
Strengths
Athleticism
Walker is among the elite in terms of athleticism in this draft class. He finished in the top 10 of 56 players in all three speed categories and top 15 in the two jumping drills at the NBA Draft Combine. He is going to be an immediate threat in transition at the NBA level. Combine his athleticism with a quick first step and scoring potential, Walker has as high of an upside as any guard in the draft.
Defensive Versatility
Walker has the ability to become a multi-position defender because of his combination of length and lateral quickness. This makes him tailor-made for the open, fast-paced style of the NBA. He has the tools to be a plus on-ball defender.
Weaknesses
Consistency/Awareness
Walker needs to become more polished as a playmaker. He doesn’t make the best reads out of pick-and-rolls and lacks high-level ball handling skills. He may never be somebody who can initiate his own offense as consistent as the other go-to scorers in the NBA. He needs to improve on his shot selection to become a more efficient scorer. Scorers need to be able to provide other things when their shots aren’t falling.
NBA Comparison: Victor Oladipo
Like Oladipo, Walker is an explosive guard. He is very athletic, can get off the floor and go up in traffic. He also has the ability to be a very good shooter and can guard the 1, 2, and 3 positions. He has a chance to become this year’s version of Donovan Mitchell.
Draft Projection: Lottery
Walker has been seen recently going as high as No. 9 to the New York Knicks. He has also been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers with 10th pick, which would setup a childhood dream come true for the Reading, Pennsylvania native. Both teams have been rumored to possibly make a move and trade up higher into the lottery, however.
The more general consensus is that Walker will get drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers when they have back-to-back picks with either the 12th or 13th selection.
He has had private workouts in the last few weeks with several teams, including the Knicks, 76ers, Lakers, Bulls, Hornets and Clippers.
Walker would be the fifth first-round pick in school history and the first since Shane Larkin, 18th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, and second-highest ever behind Rick Barry who went second overall to the San Francisco Warriors in the 1965 NBA Draft.
Walker averaged 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 34.6 percent from 3-point range in 27.8 minutes per game for the Hurricanes last season as a true freshman, earning him ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
He also made the 2018 ACC All-Academic Team and is constantly feeding his thirst to learn about almost every aspect of life.
He raised eyebrows at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last month.
Walker has gained muscle and strength since he declared for the draft in early April. Now that basketball is his full-time job, he has been focusing on ball handling and shooting during his daily training regimen and it has been showing.
“It’s kind of scary,” Walker said. “I’m a greater player now than I was when I was at Miami. I would destroy that old Lonnie Walker.”
With a versatile game and a variety of interests, Walker will certainly be hot commodity in the first round.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 196 pounds
Wingspan: 6’10”
Max Vertical Jump: 40 inches
Strengths
Athleticism
Walker is among the elite in terms of athleticism in this draft class. He finished in the top 10 of 56 players in all three speed categories and top 15 in the two jumping drills at the NBA Draft Combine. He is going to be an immediate threat in transition at the NBA level. Combine his athleticism with a quick first step and scoring potential, Walker has as high of an upside as any guard in the draft.
Defensive Versatility
Walker has the ability to become a multi-position defender because of his combination of length and lateral quickness. This makes him tailor-made for the open, fast-paced style of the NBA. He has the tools to be a plus on-ball defender.
Weaknesses
Consistency/Awareness
Walker needs to become more polished as a playmaker. He doesn’t make the best reads out of pick-and-rolls and lacks high-level ball handling skills. He may never be somebody who can initiate his own offense as consistent as the other go-to scorers in the NBA. He needs to improve on his shot selection to become a more efficient scorer. Scorers need to be able to provide other things when their shots aren’t falling.
NBA Comparison: Victor Oladipo
Like Oladipo, Walker is an explosive guard. He is very athletic, can get off the floor and go up in traffic. He also has the ability to be a very good shooter and can guard the 1, 2, and 3 positions. He has a chance to become this year’s version of Donovan Mitchell.
Draft Projection: Lottery
Walker has been seen recently going as high as No. 9 to the New York Knicks. He has also been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers with 10th pick, which would setup a childhood dream come true for the Reading, Pennsylvania native. Both teams have been rumored to possibly make a move and trade up higher into the lottery, however.
The more general consensus is that Walker will get drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers when they have back-to-back picks with either the 12th or 13th selection.
He has had private workouts in the last few weeks with several teams, including the Knicks, 76ers, Lakers, Bulls, Hornets and Clippers.
Walker would be the fifth first-round pick in school history and the first since Shane Larkin, 18th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, and second-highest ever behind Rick Barry who went second overall to the San Francisco Warriors in the 1965 NBA Draft.
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