Walsh, Council Make Noise on Day 2 of NBA Combine Scrimmages

Council solidifies spot as best defender in draft, Walsh finds ways to be more active, while Nick Smith gets passed by those shining on court

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
May 19, 2023 11:13 AM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

CHICAGO, Ill. – Thursday was the last chance for former Razorbacks Jordan Walsh and Ricky Council to make an impression in front of NBA executives, and their energy showed it.

While Council had a solid day on defense the day before and a decent job shooting, Walsh struggled much of the day as neither looked incredibly comfortable. Council looked more comfortable in the second half of his game, but it wasn't their typical Razorback showing. However, both looked way more settled in on on Day 2 as their two teams faced one another Thursday afternoon.

Jordan Walsh

It was easy to tell Walsh clearly felt he had something to prove. He came out much more aggressive and forced his way into the action. His performance on the court was solid, but not overwhelming. However, his final stat line managed to hide some of the issues on the court. The freshman forward had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Had he been as efficient as he was down the stretch for Arkansas, his active nature would have easily earned him a double-double.

The good news for Arkansas fans is, if he comes back, Eric Musselman now has tape he can point to that will show Walsh how productive he can be if he allows himself to play a more aggressive, active style. The change in mindset could be the difference between being a late second round pick this season and a lottery pick next year.

GAME NOTES:

• Walsh comes out knowing he needs to prove himself offensively. He tried to execute his patented move of cutting down the baseline to the basket. The first time he stepped out of bounds. The second time he made it to the rim and missed the shot, but was fouled. He then knocked down the second free throw to get his first points of the combine.

• He had another slash down the middle that fans probably wouldn't have seen on TV because of a graphic that was up, but he took off from the top of the key and went to the rack to allow himself to get back to the free throw line.

• On the next play, he snatched a loose ball out of the air and went the distance in hopes of a lay-up, but ended up being called for a charge.

• He had another chance to show who he can be by taking a pass on one side of the court, looping under the basket and then cutting back to the hoop. This gave him the opportunity to show the passing skills he picked up at Arkansas with two defenders on him while a teammate stood open on the block. However, Walsh decided to face the double team and clanked it off the bottom of the rim. He got his own rebound, but was blocked on his next attempt by Gonzaga's Drew Timme before drawing a foul. He was able to knock down both free throws, but it was a missed opportunity.

• Walsh pushes up the court and shoots a mid-range air ball.

• Walsh dove for a lose ball, got it ahead to UCLA's Amari Bailey who had a step on Council for the lay-up. He then stole a pass on the next trip down the floor.

• Walsh had a nice spin move where he finished with a shot that hung on the rim before dropping through while getting fouled. He then knocked down the free throw and picked up the ball handler on the way down the floor, preventing him from getting off the shot to close the first half.

• Walsh took a three and couldn't get it to go down.

• Walsh with a good, aggressive rebound. Clears it out with some power. On the way down the floor Council should pick up Walsh, but he slides off him. It looks like he doesn't want to do anything that might be detrimental to Walsh. He was supposed to pick up Walsh again on a switch off, but he slid off of him again. This allows Walsh to move to the other side of the floor, get the ball and go to the hoop for an acrobatic shot that goes down while drawing the foul. He followed up with a free throw.

• Walsh got beat for a basket in a one-on-one situation inside where he wasn't physical enough, but he responded by going to the other end and knocking down a three.

• On the next possession, he got a good offensive rebound, but failed to knock down an open turnaround jumper in the paint.

• The possession after that, he had a good pass thrown to him on the wing from the paint for a three with no one around hi, but the pass went through his hands into the stands.

• Walsh came away with the tough defensive rebound and immediately threw a long outlet pass for the assist.

• Walsh tried to answer a Council windmill dunk with a highlight dunk of his own. He got a nice feed in the lane, but missed the dunk as it hit off the back of the rim.

• Walsh with a 4th quarter steal that he passed ahead and then got a chance to get it back, but missed the dunk. It also looked like he Walsh hurt himself on the miss. He went to the bench and never came back out.

Ricky Council

If there was one thing that executives got out of these combine scrimmages, it's that Council is by far the best defender in this draft. He was smothering and relentless both days. No matter who he had to pick up, despite being asked to guard projected lottery picks the entire length of the court, he not only made their lives miserable, he created offense off defense.

What probably stood out the most was his work on Bailey. The UCLA guard rocketed up draft boards the past few days with stellar performances against anyone who stepped to him except Council. The Arkansas guard made it where Bailey couldn't breathe and when he tried to show up Council like he did so many others, he paid dearly.

It was easy to tell Council was much more comfortable. He had 9 points on 50 percent shooting. However, he was a quarter inch from being in double digits on 57% shooting, but he narrowly stepped out of bounds just as he went up for an acrobatic dunk that was the best of either day.

For much of the first half, his coaches had Council bring the ball up the floor, which instantly got him more engaged. Overall, he had an efficient night shooting while getting chances to flash his athleticism on offense. However, there is no doubt that his brand has been cemented as a lights out defensive player.

BAYLOR COACH SCOTT DREW ON COUNCIL

Drew was brought on to give comment on a list of players he's seen in person. However, as the analysts were naming players they wanted him to talk about, he cut them off and made it clear that the name that needed immediate attention was Ricky Council.

"Wait, wait, wait! Let's start with Ricky. He had 25 against us, so he's gotta go. He's someone who went from 12 a game at Wichita State to 16 a game at Arkansas. That's a really tough thing to do. He had a heck of a game against us. The only thing we did was win, so thank goodness for that."

GAME NOTES:

• In the opening minute he went to the rack against a bigger defender and was able to hang in the air for a difficult short jumper that went in while drawing the foul. He was able to complete the 3-point play while showing much more energy.

• Those Musselman nuggets continue to pay off for Council as the analysts discussed how Musselman mentioned Wednesday that Council is the most athletic player at the combine.

• Council made life miserable for Bailey. He backed him toward the half-court line, tipped the ball in the air and then trapped him in against the line. He then swallowed Bailey up the next time he brought the ball up the court.

• Bailey is the analysts darling and deservedly so. He's worked his way up the draft boards into the lottery. Council is the only person on the court who can hold him. Even the time Bailey scored, he nearly fell on his face from Council's defense while driving and had to throw up an awkward prayer to get it in after he recovered.

• Midway through the second half, Council went to the rack with a nasty spin move and knocked down the shot with his off hand. It stopped down the room for a moment.

• Early in the second half, Council was the beneficiary of a steal on the inbounds following a shot. He made the most of it, attacking both players inside, muscling it in and drawing the foul. He then knocked down the free throw. With every minute that passes, he looks more at home.

• Council missed a wide open lay-up after getting a perfect outlet pass from Clemson's PJ Hall. It looked like he got stuck between a lay-up and a dunk. Didn't seem like he expected to be so open once he went up.

• Council's biggest play was a windmill reverse dunk with enthusiasm that showed him at his fullest for the first time on offense. It didn't count because his foot hit grazed the baseline. It still stopped everyone down.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It was good to see Walsh and Council on the floor together one more time. They made it a point of lining up beside one another on free throw attempts during the few times they played at the same time, and Council went out of his way to not hurt what Walsh was trying to do.

Walsh was obviously better the second day, but he struggled shooting the ball and didn't shine on defense like he did in the final weeks of the season, especially in on-ball situations. His performance as a whole probably makes him a late second round draft, which would most likely earn him a two-way contract. That means he would have a chance to play for the club that drafts him, but would spend most of his time in the G League. Even if he's a beast, he will only contractually be allowed to play a certain amount of days in the NBA and wouldn't be eligible for the playoffs.

Council definitely didn't hurt his projection as the No. 41 pick. If anything, he may have moved up a spot or two with his defensive showing. If selected in that range, it should guarantee him a full roster spot

Of the remaining Razorbacks, Anthony Black certainly has the most buzz. NBA executives are in love with his potential and how much he grew under Musselman. They also like how he developed from a maturity standpoint over the course of the past season. Unless he goes and does something ill advised, which is not the typical off-court nature of Black, he will definitely be a Top 10 pick.

As for Nick Smith, his stock fell throughout his time as a Razorback. Off the court issues related to a rather perplexing injury coupled with a low shooting percentage and looking overwhelmed in the NCAA Tournament hurt him a great deal. Executives have a lot of questions and didn't get a chance to get those answered any way other than verbally this week. Smith even refused to take basic measurements.

While he sat out of scrimmages, several players took advantage, possibly knocking Smith down a few more draft spots. Despite Musselman talking him up rather heavily at the analyst desk, it's going to take a team that fell in love with Smith as a high school player to keep him in the lottery range.