Jordan Walsh Offers Stout Defense, Intriguing Upside in 2023 NBA Draft

Arkansas wing Jordan Walsh officially threw his name in the 2023 NBA Draft hat on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Arkansas forward Jordan Walsh officially declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, while retaining his NCAA eligibility.

Despite not having the season he was likely hoping for, Walsh offers premier defensive upside, and will assuredly hear his name called on draft night should he choose to keep his name in the pool.

A former five-star, Walsh appeared in 36 games for the Razorbacks, scoring 7.1 points on 43 percent shooting, grabbing 3.9 rebounds and nabbing 1.1 steals per game.

The Link Academy product offers elite defensive skill for those looking for it in 2023. With a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he functions well as a lane disruptor, point-of-attack defender and general nuisance for near any matchup. He’s got exceptional quickness for his size, coupling that with his solid technique and footwork to project as one of the better and more versatile defenders in the class, all at 19-years-old.

Offensively, Walsh left a lot to be desired. Alongside a decent mix of potent Arkansas scorers, Walsh functioned primarily as a transition and cutting threat, off-ball. He struggled to see his jump shots through the hoop, hitting on just 27 percent of his threes in his lone collegiate season.

Despite that, he could still be graded as high as the first round, depending on how teams value his foundational defense and potential upside as a fluid scorer.

The NBA draft combine and lottery will both kick off on Tuesday, May 16.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.