Bruce Pearl will have to build his starting frontcourt from scratch next season.
On Sunday afternoon, Auburn Men’s Basketball All-American center Walker Kessler announced through his social media that he will enter his name in the 2022 NBA Draft. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports that the 7-foot-1 big man, who is currently projected as a late first-round pick, will hire an agent and forgo his remaining college eligibility. Earlier on Sunday, Walker was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Walker will likely join projected top-three pick and fellow Auburn teammate, freshman Jabari Smith, in the NBA Draft process.