UH’s Jarace Walker, Marcus Sasser to attend NBA Draft Combine

The NBA revealed the 78 players expected to participate in the NBA Draft Combine from May 15-21 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago. Among the names included were both Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser and freshman forward Jarace Walker.

Sasser, a senior for the Cougars during the 2022-23 season, led the team averaging 16.8 points per game. He also averaged 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals a contest. Walker was second on the team in scoring, putting up 11.2 points per matchup and adding 6.8 rebounds per game.

Walker is expected to be an NBA Draft Lottery pick, meaning he is forecasted to go in the top 14 draft picks in the NBA Draft. Some predictions have Walker going as high as No. 5. Sasser is projected to be a late first-round pick or early second-round pick.

Players at the NBA Draft Combine will have interviews with NBA teams and participate in five-on-five games as well as shooting and strength and agility drills, according to the NBA’s news release.

Guard Jamal Shead, who announced in late March he was going to be testing NBA Draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, is not among the 78 players expected to attend the combine. He has until May 31 to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and return to the Cougars for his senior season.