Four Razorbacks receive invites for NBA Combine

Four Arkansas Razorback Men’s Basketball players received invites to this year’s NBA Combine ahead of this year’s draft. Nick Smith, Jr., Ricky Council, Jordan Walsh and Anthony Black were all projected as draft picks when the season began.

Official invite list for the 2023 #NBADraft Combine ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uv1REKc0E6

— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) May 9, 2023

Despite a freshman campaign that saw him get better during March, Walsh seemed to be lost in the shuffle. He was off all NBA mock drafts throughout the regular season. However, the final month has seem NBA scouts view him as a potential late first round to early second round selection.

The Texas native averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds with 40 steals as a freshman. He onlyshot 27.8% from 3-point range, but was 34.4% (11-pf-32) from deep the final 19 games.

Ricky Council IV came to Arkansas after transferring in from Wichita State. He increased his stock during the season as a consistent scorer and leader.

His high profile dunks were included in many Sportscenter top play moments throughout his only season in Fayetteville. Council deemed himself to be one of the more durable members of the squad playing 1229 minutes in 36 minutes in 2022-23.

The former Shocker averaged a team high 16.1 points, 43-percent from the field, 27-percent from three and 79-percent at the line.

Black proved himself to be a reliable offensive weapon while playing lockdown defense for much of the season.

The 6’7 point guard improved his draft stock from mid-to-late first round to a potential high lottery pick during his time under Razorback head coach Eric Musselman.

The Duncanville, Texas native averaged nearly 13 points per game, 5.1 rebounds and 3 assists. Black shot 45-percent from the field, 30-percent from three and 70-percent from the line.

His ability to drive to the basket at will and convert has scouts and owners in love with his game. Developing a solid three-point shot will give him a chance to be a more versatile offensive player.

Finally, the former number one overall player in the country for the 2022 class was Smith. He played in just half the contests due to a lagging knee injury this past season. That injury has taken him down a few spots in various mock drafts but staying in the lottery.

Smith’s potential is too high to give up on the superstardom he possesses. The former central Arkansas product averaged 12.5 points per game on 38-percent shooting, 34-percent from three and 74-percent from the line.

The Razorback basketball program has not seen more than one player selected in a single NBA Draft since 1992. That year Arkansas saw Todd Day go eighth overall to the Milwaukee Bucks. Later in the first round they’d see Oliver Miller go 22nd overall to Phoenix and Lee Mayberry selected 23rd by Milwaukee. In the second round, Isaiah Morris would be drafted by Miami.

The 2023 NBA Combine takes place on Tuesday, May 16 through Thursday, May 18. This year’s NBA Draft will be June 22 at the Barclays Center in New York.