NC State Basketball
PLAYER PREVIEW: Wyatt Walker set to bring experience, grittiness to Wolfpack frontcourt
Wyatt Walker might be a new face in Raleigh, but he’s certainly no rookie.
The 6’9 grad-transfer played at Samford for 3-years and starred for the Bulldogs, averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds per game. At NC State he’ll be asked to do a lot of the same as he steps into a prominent frontcourt role with the Wolfpack.
So how did Keatts end up nabbing an experienced center who has had this much success?
“I knew I wanted to play at a higher level after my 3 years at Samford.” said Walker “So, I opened up my recruitment. Coach Keatts and me had already built a great relationship when he was at UNCW. I knew him and Coach Siddle. CJ Bryce and me were pretty good friends. As soon as he contacted me I was pretty fired up.Then I scheduled a visit, came in and loved it from day one.”
Walker is coming into a great situation. With the transfer of Omer Yurtseven and the loss of Lennard Freeman and Malik Abu to graduation, he is likely going to slot right into a starting role. But the situation isn’t just great on his side, it’s pretty darn good for NC State as well.
Walker is a rare graduate transfer who has 2-years of eligibility left. That is due to separate knee injures that cost him a season.
“I tore my meniscus in the preseason and I did surgery and rehab. I was at 100% and then had a freak accident in the 2nd game of the season last year and tore it again. Then did my last surgery in December, so it’s been a long time. I’m back at 100%, playing, running, feeling great.”
While it’s always concerning when a player has injured a knee multiple times, Walker isn’t too concerned about it and feel like he’s back to full strength.
“I feel great. Our trainers and strength coach do a great job… When I got here there was a big emphasis on getting my body right before anything. I feel great. At this point, you just have to go out and play. I rarely think about it anymore and whatever God’s plan is, whatever happens, happens.”
So what can NC State fans expect to see when he suits up in the red and white? Well, when asked who he patterns his game after, he mentioned a name we hadn’t heard in a long time.
Not what we were expecting, but certainly not dissapointing at all. Sabonis was one of the best European players the NBA has ever seen. He could pass it, shoot it and score with his back to the basket. He had nearly unstoppable post moves and what he lacked in athleticism, he made up for in craftiness and work ethic.
That type of work ethic is already being noticed by his teammates.
“He works hard.” said PG Braxton Beverly. “He’s gritty. He’s got a lot of experience and had a great career as Samford when he was healthy and he’s doing the same thing here. He’s working his butt off every day. He brings that experience that is going to make a big difference for us.”
And his post moves seem to be turning some heads as well.
“90% of the time Wyatt gets it down there it’s a bucket, as far as post-moves.” said frontcourt mate DJ Funderburk.
If NC State is going to be as good as some think they are, they’re going to have to have quality play from their frontcourt, and whether he’s ready or not, Wyatt Walker is going to be a deciding factor.