UK’s Wallace, forecasted lottery game choice, to enter draft
Kentucky freshman Cason Wallace, a projected lottery choice, will forgo his remaining college eligibility and get in the 2023 NBA draft, he informed ESPN on Saturday.
“I’m all in,” Wallace said. “This season was fun. It had its ups and downs but the very best part was having my brothers with me. We stuck through it and persevered.”
Wallace, the No. 10 prospect in ESPN’s NBA draft projections, was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 32 minutes per game.He played perhaps his best game of the season in what wound up being his last appearance in a Kentucky uniform, publishing 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists on 9-of-11 shooting in an NCAA tournament round-of-32 loss to Kansas State.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated”When NCAA tournament time came I wished to give everything I had,”Wallace stated.” That was my last game unfortunately, however I went down swinging. Coach Calipari was constantly there for us; when we lost, he took the blame. He taught me that it was an opportunity to play the game.”
With Kentucky’s beginning point player Sahvir Wheeler injured for the final six weeks of the season, Wallace was thrust into a different function as a primary ballhandler and asked to be a more aggressive scorer, something Wallace says was eventually good for his development.
“Learning how to play the point player position the whole game assisted,” Wallace stated. “It forced me to step up to another obstacle in a new role.”
Standing 6-foot-3 with 6-6 wingspan, Wallace is intriguing to NBA groups with his mix of toughness, feel for the game, spot shooting, unselfishness and protective flexibility, offering him a high flooring as a possibility. He is among the most stout protectors in this draft class, something that needs to help him carve out an instant role in the NBA.
“NBA teams saw that I’m not going to back down,” Wallace stated. “I’m constantly going to battle, no matter the circumstance. I’m anticipating showing that I can do whatever on the court, anything I’m asked. I’m going to develop each part of my game, my shot and manages. I’m going to get more powerful, much faster and quicker in the pre-draft procedure.”
The NBA draft combine will be held May 15-21 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 22 in New York City City.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft specialist and the creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private hunting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international groups.