Three NBA Draft prospects Spurs fans should watch as March Madness begins

2. Jarace Walker | Houston | Freshman | Forward

Jarace Walker entered his freshman season with a reputation as a tough-nosed defender with the versatility to cover multiple positions at the next level. Though he struggled to carve out a defined role within the veteran-heavy Houston offense led by Marcus Sasser, the 19-year-old forward has settled in as the second option for head coach Kelvin Sampson.

His shooting stroke is inconsistent, but his flashes of interior touch, short-roll passing, and cutting offer him enough two-way value to warrant some early-lottery consideration. Scouting departments will be banking on their coaching staff to mine his untapped upside, though he has the god-given physical tools to become an impact player despite his scoring limitations.

Walker and the top-seeded Cougars suit up for their first-round matchup against Northern Kentucky tonight. Spurs fans should keep their eyes on how he responds after a poor performance in a stunning loss to Memphis at the AAC Championship. While another dud could hurt his stock, he has the potential to be a massive riser if he helps lead Houston to a deep run.