Samford graduate transfer Wyatt Walker needed just two offical visits to make up his mind, and he verbally committed to NC State on Friday.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder arrived April 13 for his official visit to NC State and then took a trip to Wisconsin last weekend. He fills the last current available scholarship for the Wolfpack.
Walker, who has two years of eligibility remaining, picked NC State over Wisconsin and Oklahoma State. He averaged 12.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game his sophomore year in 2016-2017 — including 17 double-doubles — and Samford reached the second round of the CIT.
Walker tore his meniscus while trying to block a dunk in the second game of his junior year, and took a medical redshirt.
“The greatest attribute that I have is my mind,” Walker said. “I’m cerebral and can do a lot of things with the ball that a lot of players at my position can’t do. I can play that point four position where I can pass it, handle, shoot it and score with my basket to the basket or face up.
“I’m not the greatest athlete in the world or have the greatest jump shot, but I’m tough and hard working”
NC State had an ace in the hole in recruiting Walker. NCSU head coach Kevin Keatts offered him out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Providence while at UNCW. It also helped the Wolfpack’s cause that former Jacksonville (Fla.) Providence prep teammate Grayson Allen of Duke encouraged him to make the move.
Walker graduated from Samford in three years with a marketing degree, that had a sports emphasis to it. He averaged 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in 22 minutes per game his freshman year.
Walker was offered out of high school by Samford, UNCW, Davidson, Jacksonville, Brown, Lehigh, Fairfield, Albany, Drake, Fordham, Lafayette, North Florida, William & Mary, Princeton, Mercer, UTEP and St. Francis (Pa.).
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