[jonus grumbyParticipant]

Have not watched a lot of Gator basketball this year but when I have recently in bits and pieces I have not seen Walker play so maybe I am missing something. I realize he was late to the party but how can he be rated as a 1st round pick when he is only averaging about 5 minutes of court time per game. Surely Billy the Kid is not blind to talent.

[Prime TimeParticipant]

 I think so, in the limited amount of minutes that he has player, we’ve seen glimpses of his athleticism and potential. Not being with the team for half the season is the reason he’s receiving limited minutes. The Gators have been playing great, and Billy Donovan seems to be going with the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" approach. He has the potential to he a solid player in the league. If he were to enter the 2014 draft, he’s probably a "Hakim Warrick" type of pick/player.

[Prime TimeParticipant]

 I think so, in the limited amount of minutes that he has player, we’ve seen glimpses of his athleticism and potential. Not being with the team for half the season is the reason he’s receiving limited minutes. The Gators have been playing great, and Billy Donovan seems to be going with the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" approach. He has the potential to he a solid player in the league. If he were to enter the 2014 draft, he’s probably a "Hakim Warrick" type of pick/player.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

He’s a 1st round talent,but without the playing time to show his skills, to me he’s a 2nd rounder….Unless some team drafting in the 1st round really likes him…

Florida got off to a great start and didnt miss a beat without him…So its hard for him to see court time,he has averaged only 4 minutes in the 7 games he’s played in..Without him showing what he can do on the court ,it is going to hurt his draft status…..

Remember at the start of the season he was rated as a late lottery to late 1st rounder ..But since then players like Zach Lavine,Noah Vonleh and Tyler Ennis have had breakout years and elevated themselves into lottery discussion..And players like Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson,Doug McDermott,Nick Staukas and Kyle Anderson that were considered late 1st or 2nd rounders, have improved their stock…Which will pushed and the unproven Walker further down…Maybe soon after seeing Walker practice with the team and shaking off some rust Coach Donovan increase his minutes before the Tourney..

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

He’s a 1st round talent,but without the playing time to show his skills, to me he’s a 2nd rounder….Unless some team drafting in the 1st round really likes him…

Florida got off to a great start and didnt miss a beat without him…So its hard for him to see court time,he has averaged only 4 minutes in the 7 games he’s played in..Without him showing what he can do on the court ,it is going to hurt his draft status…..

Remember at the start of the season he was rated as a late lottery to late 1st rounder ..But since then players like Zach Lavine,Noah Vonleh and Tyler Ennis have had breakout years and elevated themselves into lottery discussion..And players like Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson,Doug McDermott,Nick Staukas and Kyle Anderson that were considered late 1st or 2nd rounders, have improved their stock…Which will pushed and the unproven Walker further down…Maybe soon after seeing Walker practice with the team and shaking off some rust Coach Donovan increase his minutes before the Tourney..

[MopgrassParticipant]

 There are a lot of questions to be answered. I think he’s going to turn the ball over a heck of a lot. He drives the way Julius Randle does and into traffic. Randle turns the ball over too much and his handle is way better than Chris Walker’s. Walker is the type of player that can take over your team. That’s why a coach with the #2 team won’t give him minutes. It will change everything. 

I love his athleticism and how hard he plays. I’m not sure if he has a shot or not, but he’s surely an NBA body. I’m pretty certain he’s a lottery-level talent. I’m not sure he’ll be picked there without exposure. It would be smart to stick around a year and go top 5 next year, but guys that take money usually are dead-set on the NBA. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 There are a lot of questions to be answered. I think he’s going to turn the ball over a heck of a lot. He drives the way Julius Randle does and into traffic. Randle turns the ball over too much and his handle is way better than Chris Walker’s. Walker is the type of player that can take over your team. That’s why a coach with the #2 team won’t give him minutes. It will change everything. 

I love his athleticism and how hard he plays. I’m not sure if he has a shot or not, but he’s surely an NBA body. I’m pretty certain he’s a lottery-level talent. I’m not sure he’ll be picked there without exposure. It would be smart to stick around a year and go top 5 next year, but guys that take money usually are dead-set on the NBA. 

[Scott42444Participant]

 I think this website has him as a mid-2nd rounder.  I don’t know who would pick him in the 1st round unless he has a workout with a team near the end of the 1st (Thunder, maybe?) that was just dominant.  I think I would be weary of taking him in the 1st based on principle since he would be an IDIOT not to stick around for another season.  He just didn’t have a chance to show his skills or any improvement and when there are questions about your character due to NCAA ineligibility (whether it’s warranted or not) it doesn’t make NBA GM’s jump for joy either.  A lot of the best franchises in the NBA pride themselves in taking "character guys".  I am not saying that Chris Walker is a bad guy AT ALL, I personally think the NCAA is comprised of a bunch of scumbags who enforce rules in a disgusting way (Ryan Boatwright situation sealed my hatred for the NCAA, look into that if you have time it is interesting).  But, the NBA takes NCAA rules violations seriously because they view it as "conduct detrimental to the team", where a player should avoid situations that cause problems for the team.  

[Scott42444Participant]

 I think this website has him as a mid-2nd rounder.  I don’t know who would pick him in the 1st round unless he has a workout with a team near the end of the 1st (Thunder, maybe?) that was just dominant.  I think I would be weary of taking him in the 1st based on principle since he would be an IDIOT not to stick around for another season.  He just didn’t have a chance to show his skills or any improvement and when there are questions about your character due to NCAA ineligibility (whether it’s warranted or not) it doesn’t make NBA GM’s jump for joy either.  A lot of the best franchises in the NBA pride themselves in taking "character guys".  I am not saying that Chris Walker is a bad guy AT ALL, I personally think the NCAA is comprised of a bunch of scumbags who enforce rules in a disgusting way (Ryan Boatwright situation sealed my hatred for the NCAA, look into that if you have time it is interesting).  But, the NBA takes NCAA rules violations seriously because they view it as "conduct detrimental to the team", where a player should avoid situations that cause problems for the team.  

[JoeWolf1]

At this point, we have to strictly judge him on potential. He’s playing his first games in late Feb, while trying to mesh with the #1 team in the country. Florida is one of those teams that is built really well, and everyone plays a role. Introducing a new guy in the mix right before the games really start to matter is a slippery slope, so I wouldn’t make much of what he’s done on the court at this point.

He has a chance to prove himself in the NCAA tournament when you can be sent home at any minute. A lot of guys have come out of nowhere after being given a shot in the big dance. That is really the only scenario I could see him going pro…if he gets some momentum has some big plays and Florida makes a final 4 or wins it all, I could see him capitalzing on that, but more likely I think he should come back.

He’s in a situation where he’s played so little, he can’t help but improve, it’s not like he’s PJIII who averaged 13 as a frosh and will drop if he averages 14 and not 20. He is a seldomly used player who is athletic and 6’11”, he’s still going to be in the late 1st, early 2nd range if he averages 6 ppg next year because he’s still going to be athletic and 6’11” and not old enough to buy a beer legally…if he even puts up 10 ppg and 8 rpg he could be mid 1st or late lotto. I think he’s in a similar situation as Montrezl Harrell was last year. 

[JoeWolf1]

At this point, we have to strictly judge him on potential. He’s playing his first games in late Feb, while trying to mesh with the #1 team in the country. Florida is one of those teams that is built really well, and everyone plays a role. Introducing a new guy in the mix right before the games really start to matter is a slippery slope, so I wouldn’t make much of what he’s done on the court at this point.

He has a chance to prove himself in the NCAA tournament when you can be sent home at any minute. A lot of guys have come out of nowhere after being given a shot in the big dance. That is really the only scenario I could see him going pro…if he gets some momentum has some big plays and Florida makes a final 4 or wins it all, I could see him capitalzing on that, but more likely I think he should come back.

He’s in a situation where he’s played so little, he can’t help but improve, it’s not like he’s PJIII who averaged 13 as a frosh and will drop if he averages 14 and not 20. He is a seldomly used player who is athletic and 6’11”, he’s still going to be in the late 1st, early 2nd range if he averages 6 ppg next year because he’s still going to be athletic and 6’11” and not old enough to buy a beer legally…if he even puts up 10 ppg and 8 rpg he could be mid 1st or late lotto. I think he’s in a similar situation as Montrezl Harrell was last year. 

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