Kentucky Wildcats guard Cason Wallace has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft and will forgo the remainder of his college eligibility, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The 6-foot-4 and 193-pound defensive stud averaged 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in 2022-23 on the way to an SEC All-Freshman selection.
Cason Wallace, potentially the best defender in this draft, is intriguing to NBA teams with his combination of toughness, feel for the game, shooting, unselfishness and defensive instincts, giving him a high floor as a prospect. https://t.co/J6LTiVpze8 pic.twitter.com/ieAqkRE0EC
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 1, 2023
Physical, athletic, and instinctual, Wallace could see himself drafted in the lottery by the right team. Especially if he shows that he has what it takes to be a reliable 3-point threat prior to the draft,
As of now, Wallace is solid catch-and-shoot option from deep but is much better inside of the arc. Should he find himself unable to get all the way to rim when the lane is packed, possible given that he isn't especially advanced as a ball-handler, facilitator, or jump shooter, he has a made consistent use of a solid floater. However, if he does get to the tin, make no mistake about whether or not he would prefer to slam it home.
Another question about Wallace surrounds his high turnover rate, as his 67 turnovers ranked 15th in the conference. Although the additional space he should have to work with at the NBA level should make it easier for him to be a playmaker, advanced defenses and defenders will test his passing ability.
Nonetheless, Wallace is only 19-years-old and there's no reason to doubt that he can build on his skillset. Furthermore, with perimeter defense as difficult as ever, any number of teams could see Wallace as a key piece of their future.
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