Walsh declares for draft, maintains college eligibility

Arkansas wing Jordan Walsh reacts on Saturday, March 18, 2023, during the second half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game vs. Kansas at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas wing Jordan Walsh will test the NBA Draft waters this spring.

The news was first reported by Curtis Wilkerson of HawgSports. He is the fifth Arkansas player since season’s end to do so and second to maintain college eligibility, joining junior guard Davonte Davis.

Walsh was projected as the No. 52 pick on ESPN’s mock draft last week, and NBA Draft Room has him as the 37th overall pick.

A 5-star signee in Arkansas’ 2022 recruiting class and a McDonald’s All-American, Walsh averaged 7.1 points on 43.3% from the field and 27.8% from three-point range, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals as a freshman.

According to CBB Analytics, he made 52 of 79 (65.8%) attempts at the rim and was 18 of 47 (38.3%) on all other attempts in the lane. The site also shows he was 4 of 19 (21.1%) on two-point jumpers outside the lane and struggled beyond the arc except at the top of the key (5 of 9).

Walsh was 11 of 43 (25.6%) from deep on the wings and 4 of 19 in the corners.

“I’m going to get right back in the lab and figure out my weaknesses that I have in my game,” Walsh said after Arkansas' loss to Connecticut in the Sweet 16. “I kind of have an idea now just talking to the coaches. They’re putting a plan together for me to be able to really maximize myself this summer.

“I’m excited to get back on the grind and come back and be able to do whatever it takes to win, wherever that leads me.”

Walsh was one of four players to play in all 36 games in 2022-23, and he earned a start in 22. He started 10 of 18 SEC games.

Walsh scored in double figures 12 times last season and added a season-high 18 points and 4 steals against Bradley in North Little Rock in December. He also had 13 points at LSU, at Kentucky and against Ole Miss.

The freshman was most impactful in the Razorbacks’ two NCAA Tournament wins against No. 9 seed Illinois and No. 1 Kansas. Behind his hustle, defense and some timely shot-making, Arkansas outscored the Illini and Jayhawks by 34 points during his 61 minutes in the lineup.

“I learned that me being a guy who’s not going to go out and score 30 or 20 or 15 or anything like that, I can still impact the game in so many ways,” Walsh added. “Not a lot of people notice it. If you’re a real basketball mind then I guess you can pick up on it.”