Nebraska Basketball: Derrick Walker will bring physicality to program

Nebraska Basketball got another big commitment on Wednesday.

Nebraska Basketball continues to add players to the program, and Wednesday was no different. This time, they got a commitment from forward Derrick Walker who played at Tennessee the past two seasons. This was confirmed by Walker himself on Twitter, and also via multiple media reports.

At first glance, the numbers may not be eye-popping. In the 2017-18 season. He played and 34 games averaging 1.9 points per contest and the 2.2 rebounds. He only played a little over eight minutes per game, so that is certainly a small sample size. It would be safe to assume that Walker is looking for a bigger role at Nebraska.

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As a recruit, he was the second overall player from the state of Missouri in the 2017 class, and was a three-star prospect per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He committed to Tennessee in February 2017.

One of the things that stands out to me when watching his highlights is just how physical he is. When he gets the ball in the post, he backs down until he finds what he considers the proper shot. That physicality will be much-needed for a Nebraska Basketball team that lacked that attribute in 2019. Another part of his game that will benefit Nebraska Basketball is his passing ability. He is a very sound passer, and seems to make the tough ones with ease. That is certainly something to be excited about as well.

The only bad part about this transfer is that Walker will likely have to sit out a season before he can join the program. That is not the worst thing,  as he can get an idea of how the program is run and also a better idea of what his role would be. 2019-20 will certainly be a learning year for all involved. Once Walker is able to get up to speed and take part in game action, I can’t wait to see what he can do.

I would imagine that he is hungry to compete again as well. He will certainly have a chip on his shoulder as he looks to prove himself. He will certainly be thrust onto a crowded Nebraska Basketball roster, but that should allow for a lot of healthy competition moving forward. Right now, Walker just needs to make the most of his practices as he looks to show what he is made of.

This is another big get for the Nebraska Basketball coaching staff. They have been on a recruiting tear this week, and it appears the program has no signs of slowing down. It will be interesting to see who else they add to the roster as they look to build a winning program and tradition moving forward.