3 Arkansas prospects that could be on Grizzlies draft radar
There could be local ties in this year's draft for the Memphis Grizzlies, as 3 interesting Arkansas players could be in their range.
When it comes to college basketball, I’m more infatuated with the teams with NBA prospects. It’s always cool to follow a player’s path from college to the pros, tracking the growth in their games through the years.
It’s a part of the reason why I can’t be sold on Ole Miss basketball — even though it’s my alma mater. It doesn’t churn out NBA players. It’s why I originally became intrigued with a Penny Hardaway-led Memphis Tigers team with James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa, Jalen Duren, Emoni Bates, and Lester Quinones in the fold.
The college team I was enamored with going into this season was Arkansas — a school I have ties with through my sister and several good friends. Eric Musselman — former Memphis Grizzlies assistant and perhaps the most rad coach in all of college hoops — stockpiled his team with future NBA talent, nabbing 3 top-20 recruits (including #1 guy Nick Smith Jr., per 247 Sports).
Their season was a bit of a drag, showing the downsides of loading a team up with youth. They finished 22-14, 8-10 in the SEC, and were the 8th seed in their region. Though they upset #1 Kansas in the tournament, their run didn’t last much longer — losing to the eventual champs, UConn, in the Sweet 16.
Regardless of their performance this past season, there are several intriguing prospects from Arkansas. Anthony Black is projected to go into the top-10, with murmurs of possibly going as high as 4. In addition, there are several other Razorbacks that could make for good pros as well — and perhaps starting their careers with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Nick Smith Jr., 6’5” guard
Measurements: 6’5”, 6’8” wingspan, 185 pounds
Age: 19 years old
Stats: 12.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks. Shooting splits of 37.6/33.8/74.0 on 12.4/4.5/3.0 volume splits.
Per-36 (via Tankathon): 17.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.2 steals
Mock Draft placement: Highest: 12 - Thunder (ESPN), Lowest: 36 - Magic (No Ceilings)
Big Board placement: Highest: 14 (ESPN and Tankathon), Lowest: 27 (Mavs Draft)
Nick Smith Jr. came into the season as a potential top-5 pick, vying for the title as the best collegiate prospect in this class. However, a lingering knee injury was a setback, causing him to miss time — and to play inconsistency when he did suit up.
Smith’s draft stock hasn’t totally tanked, as he’s still projected by most analysts to go into the teens. However, there’s a track record of these perceived “score-first” combo guards falling in the draft recently — Tyrese Maxey (21st, 2020), Cam Thomas (27th, 2021), and Jaden Hardy (37th, 2022). Could Nick Smith Jr. be the next faller? We’ll see. Nonetheless, teams are likely still bought into Smith because of his upside as a scorer off the dribble.
The problem with Smith’s offense was his inefficiency. He possessed a true shooting percentage of 47.2% last season. NBA teams will likely be gauging the various factors here. Was it his knee injury, a spacing issue of the college game, or his decision-making?
Aside from scoring, he didn’t flash a whole lot as a committee rebounder or as a playmaker. However, there’s a little bit of defensive upside in his game, averaging 1.2 steals per 36 minutes. Defense has also been a sore spot for “score-first” combo guards in the postseason — Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro are recent examples. Becoming an asset defensively, while also boosting his scoring efficiency, could be his ticket to contributing early in the NBA.
Nick Smith Jr. may not be available at the 25th pick, but never say never. The board is still rather fluid, even with the draft next week, and there are valid arguments for Smith slipping down the draft board. He would be a wise pick for the Grizzlies, given his pedigree as a scorer and the team’s need for a combo guard in the prospect part of their depth chart.
Jordan Walsh, 6’6” forward
Measurements: 6’6”, 7’2” wingspan, 204 pounds
Age: 19 years old
Stats: 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks. Shooting splits of 43.3/27.8/71.2 on 6.0/2.0/1.8 volume splits.
Per-36 (via Tankathon): 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7
Mock Draft placement: Highest: 31 - Pistons (No Ceilings), Lowest: 48 - Clippers (The Athletic)
Big Board placement: Highest: 39 (ESPN and (Mavs Draft), Lowest: 54 (The Athletic)
Evident in his performance against Kansas in the NCAA tournament, Jordan Walsh is a winning player. He won’t wow anyone with his scoring ability, but he will with his tenacious energy.
Walsh is an absolute defensive menace, using his 7’2” wingspan and his stellar footspeed to hound opposing players on the floor. His screen navigation, both on and off the ball, make him a pest to deal. To describe his defensive presence with a reference from one of my favorite TV shows, Ted Lasso:
he’s here, he’s there, he’s every-[bad word]-where
Within his havoc wreaking defensively, Walsh’s versatility stands out. He can cover positions 1-4 effectively. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him become an impact defender on Day 1.
Walsh also has a pinch of playmaking upside to his game. While he won’t be called upon to initiate offense, he could find his teammates as a grab-and-go forward or a connector:
The biggest swing with Walsh is his shooting. He only made 27.8% of his 3’s and 25.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3’s. His indicators don’t inspire a whole lot of confidence, but aren’t utterly disastrous (7/18 on runners, 71.2 free throw percentage). There’s nothing entirely wrong with his mechanics, but consistency as a shooter will be key in his development as a NBA rotation player.
Jordan Walsh’s fit in Memphis is a bit murky, given the influx of prospect wings/forwards. He may be the worst offensive player of the group, but he’s also the best defender on the bunch. With the loss of Dillon Brooks, acquiring a prospect like Walsh in the second round to mold into a defensive stopper could be a solid route for the Grizzlies.
Ricky Council IV, 6’6” wing
Measurements: 6’5”, 6’9” wingspan, 208 pounds
Age: 21 years old
Stats: 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks. Shooting splits of 48.0/40.5/83.0 on 12.4/4.5/3.0 volume splits.
Per-36 (via Tankathon): 17.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.2 steals
Mock Draft placement: Highest: 45 - Grizzlies (Tankathon), Lowest: N/A (first round only) (NBA Big Board), Undrafted (Mavs Draft), Undrafted (The Athletic), Undrafted (The Box and One)
Big Board placement: Highest: 38 (Bleacher Report); Lowest: 62 (Mavs Draft)
Ricky Council IV is an electrifying athlete that could generate momentum of the game with finishes above the rim.
He shows prowess as a scorer with his athleticism — whether it’s from cutting, flying in transition, or getting to the line (.502 free throw rate). He needs to polish his game more offensively. He only made 29.6% of his catch-and-shoot 3’s, a product of stiff mechanics. He also connected on 29.2% of his dribble jumpers, per Synergy Sports. Rounding out his game as a scorer, while finding his stride as a playmaker, would be beneficial for his offensive ceiling.
Council is worth a look deep in the second-round, perhaps netting a spot as a two-way player next season, as the Grizzlies continue to figure out its long-term wing rotation.
Arkansas prospects have been near and dear to the hearts of Grizzlies faithful — Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe in 2020, and Moses Moody in 2021. The Grizzlies could find themselves in the range of a few NBA Razorback players next week, and all of them would make solid additions to this team.
Preference between the 3: Smith, Walsh, Council
Likelihood between the 3: Walsh, Council, Smith
Draft predictions for these 3: Smith lands in the top 20 out of the Grizzlies’ range; Walsh is there at 25 but will not be by the time the Grizzlies select in the 2nd round; Grizzlies pass on Council in the second round.
Stats found on Tankathon and Synergy Sports
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