MANHATTAN, Kan. Kansas State freshman forward Bill Walker was selected with the No. 47 pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards at the NBA’s annual draft event on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Walker was then traded by the Wizards to the world champion Boston Celtics for cash considerations.
"We are really happy for Bill and his family on this occasion," said Kansas State head coach Frank Martin. "We know that with the knee injury that he has some challenges ahead, but Bill has always overcome all sorts of odds to succeed. I don't see him approaching this any different than he has approached all the other challenges he has faced. He's a fighter and will find a way to have success in the NBA."
"I'm extremely happy for Bill that he was traded to the World Champions," said Martin. "They really believe in him and feel he can by a really good player for them. It's great to see him go to an organization that just won a championship."
Walker becomes the second Wildcat to be taken in this year’s draft, following teammate Michael Beasley who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Miami Heat. They are the first Wildcat teammates to chosen in the same NBA Draft since 1982 when three players Tyrone Adams (3rd round), Randy Reed (7th round) and Ed Nealy (8th round) were drafted. It marks the 15th time in school history (1951, 1953, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1982 and 2008) that two players have been taken in the same draft.
Walker is the fifth player in school history to be taken in the second round of the NBA Draft, joining Jack Stone (11th pick, Baltimore Bullets, 1951), Lew Hitch (20th pick, Minneapolis Lakers, 1951), Norris Coleman (38th pick, L.A. Clippers, 1987) and Steve Henson (44th pick, Milwaukee Bucks, 1990).
Walker could become the second Kansas State player to ever play for the Boston Celtics. He would join Ernie Barrett, who averaged 4.9 points in 131 games for the Celtics from 1953-56.
Walker averaged 16.1 points on 46.5 percent shooting (181-of-389), including 30.7 percent (35-of-114) from 3-point range, with 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game this season. He ranked second to Beasley in nearly every statistical category, including scoring, double-digit scoring (25), 20-point games (nine), double-doubles (four), rebounding, blocks, field goals, free throws (101) and free throw percentage (73.7). His averages were even higher in Big 12 play, where he averaged 16.6 points on 47.2 percent shooting with 6.1 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game.
Walker earned numerous accolades after the season, including third team freshman All-America distinction from CBS Sports.com and CollegeHoops.net and freshman All-America honors by CollegeInsider.com. He was named to the All-Big 12 second team by the Kansas City Star, while he was a third team selection by both the league coaches and The Associated Press. He was also selected to several all-district squads, including the U.S Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District VI team and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 12 second team.
Walker and company helped Kansas State post a 21-12 overall record in 2007-08, including a third-place finish in the Big 12 with a 10-6 mark. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 12 years and captured its first NCAA Tournament win since 1988 with their 80-67 victory over USC in the first round of the Midwest Regional in Omaha, Neb., on March 20. The team has now posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in nearly 20 years, while the 10 conference wins tie the 2006-07 squad for the best league record in the Big 12 era. The third-place finish is the best since the inception of the Big 12 and the highest since the 1988-89 team finished third in the Big Eight.
Kansas State’s NBA Draft History
Year Name Pos. Team Rd Pick
1947 Jack Stone F Chicago Stags -- --
1949 Howard Shannon G/F Providence Steamrollers 1 1
1950 Rick Harman F Baltimore Bullets 6 --
1951 Ernie Barrett G Boston Celtics 1 7
Jack Stone F Baltimore Bullets 2 11
Lew Hitch C Minneapolis Lakers 2 20
Ed Head F Minneapolis Lakers 7 70
1952 Jim Iverson G Boston Celtics -- --
1953 Jack Carby F Baltimore Bullets -- --
Bob Rousey G Milwaukee Bucks -- --
Dick Knostman C Syracuse Nationals -- --
1954 Jesse Priscock F New York Knicks 5 40
1955 Jerry Jung C Rochester Royals -- --
1958 Roy DeWitz G/F Detroit Pistons 3 19
Jack Parr F Cincinnati Royals 10 63
1959 Bob Boozer F Cincinnati Royals 1 1
Don Matuszak G Cincinnati Royals 8 56
1960 Wally Frank F Minneapolis Lakers 4 26
1961 Cedrick Price C New York Knicks 8 69
Larry Comley G/F Chicago Packers 10 91
1962 Mike Wroblewski C Cincinnati Royals 5 42
Pat McKenzie F Chicago Packers 15 99
1964 Willie Murrell F St. Louis Bombers 4 33
Roger Suttner C San Francisco Warriors 5 43
1967 Ray Smith C New York Knicks 9 95
Nick Pino C Los Angeles Lakers 11 116
1968 Nick Pino C Los Angeles Lakers 6 73
Earl Seyfert F Philadelphia 76ers 13 170
1969 Gene Williams F New York Knicks 9 95
Steve Honeycutt G Seattle Supersonics 17 203
1970 Jerry Venable F Philadelphia 76ers 6 97
1971 Mike Johnson G Phoenix Suns 9 149
1972 David Hall C Cincinnati Royals 10 148
1973 Steve Mitchell F Phoenix Suns 3 43
Ernie Kusyner G/F Kansas City Kings 10 157
1974 Larry Williams F Milwaukee Bucks 6 108
Lon Kruger G Atlanta Hawks 9 151
1976 Chuckie Williams G Cleveland Cavaliers 1 15
Carl Gerlach C Atlanta Hawks 7 110
1978 Mike Evans G Denver Nuggets 1 21
1981 Rolando Blackman G Dallas Mavericks 1 9
1982 Tyrone Adams G/F Chicago Bulls 3 53
Randy Reed F Cleveland Cavaliers 7 139
Ed Nealy F Kansas City Kings 8 166
1983 Les Craft F Cleveland Cavaliers 3 65
1987 Norris Coleman F Los Angeles Clippers 2 38
1988 Mitch Richmond G/F Golden State Warriors 1 5
1990 Steve Henson G Milwaukee Bucks 2 44
2008 Michael Beasley F Miami Heat 1 2
Bill Walker F Washington Wizards 2 47
