Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Spurs pick ’Cane
Former UM standout taken No. 18 overall
UM guard Lonnie Walker IV taken at No. 18.
Former Miami Hurricanes guard Lonnie Walker needed only one year on campus to accomplish an impressive feat in school history.
Thursday, Walker was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 18 pick in the NBA draft in New York. He is tied for the second-highest UM player selected. In 2014, Shane Larkin was drafted at the same slot by the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks on draft night. Hall of Famer Rick Barry was the No. 2 pick in 1965.
“It’s extravagant,” Walker said on ESPN while being flanked by former Spurs center David Robinson, also a Hall of Famer. “… I can only thank my mom and dad and family and friends.”
Walker, who left after his freshman season, is just the fifth player in UM history chosen in the first round. The others are John Salmons (2003) and Tim James (1999). Many analysts considered Walker the steal of the draft because of his potential. He was projected high as the No. 15 pick in some mock drafts.
With the Spurs contemplating trading star Kawhi Leonard this offseason, Walker could walk into an ideal situation. He will be guided by coach Gregg Popovich and get to play alongside forward LaMarcus Aldridge. The Spurs have won five championships since 1999 and are considered one of the model franchises in the league. They played the Miami Heat in consecutive NBA Finals, winning in 2014 after losing the previous year.
Walker, who left after his freshman season, is just the fifth player in UM history chosen in the first round.
Last season the Spurs were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, but are usually an annual contender for the title. Walker said he is more than up to the challenge of competing for a marquee organization.
“Day in and day out, I’m always going to progress as a man on and off the court,” Walker said.
When Walker arrived, he was considered a potential “one-and-done” because of his high rating coming out of high school. He was ranked the No. 13 player in the nation by ESPN, choosing the Hurricanes over Arizona, Kentucky, Syracuse and Villanova.
A 6-foot-5 shooting guard, Walker averaged a team-high 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his lone season in Coral Gables. He helped lead the Hurricanes to the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Loyola-Chicago in the first round. Walker led UM with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting in his final game. It was the end of what was at times an inconsistent season because of some early injuries.
After scoring 26 points against Boston University during the non-conference schedule, Walker failed to reach double figures in six of the next seven games. He then averaged 18 points the following eight games in Atlantic Coast Conference play, including 25 in a victory against Louisville in January.
Walker, who was joined in New York by the UM coaching staff, impressed scouts at the draft combine in Chicago with his athleticism. He worked out for several teams, including the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Walker’s selection makes it two consecutive years the Hurricanes have had a player drafted. Last year Davon Reed was taken by the Phoenix Suns in the second round.