Which North Texas players were picked and snubbed in the NBA draft?

Several players with North Texas ties were selected in the NBA draft on Thursday. Here’s a look at who was picked and who didn’t hear their names called.

Anthony Black

▪ Picked 6th overall by the Orlando Magic

Black attended Coppell High School before transferring to Duncanville. He then played his freshman year as an Arkansas Razorback before declaring for the NBA draft. The guard played in 36 games, averaging about 35 minutes and 12.8 points per game for the Razorbacks. He was limited during the season with an ankle concern and a minor foot injury.

He has been praised for his work as a point guard and as an impressive defender. Now, he’ll take those talents to Orlando.

Cason Wallace

▪ Picked 10th overall by the Dallas Mavericks (traded to Oklahoma City)

Wallace is another DFW product that declared for the draft after his freshman year. The guard played for Richardson High School before playing one year at Kentucky. In that one season, Wallace played in 32 games where he averaged 32 minutes and 11.7 points per game.

The guard has been praised for being a strong defender that can hold his ground against strong opponents. He can also help out under the rim, recording nine rebounds in his last game as a Wildcat.

Keyonte George

▪ Picked 16th overall by the Utah Jazz

George played for Lewisville High School for three years before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior year. In his lone year as a Baylor Bear, the guard played in 33 games, averaging 28.6 minutes and 15.3 points per game.

George has been praised for his basketball IQ, his speed and agility and his overall offensive ability. He has a quick trigger that can lead to poor shot choices, but the Jazz seem to have confidence in his ability after taking him as their first-round pick.

Marcus Sasser

▪ Picked 25th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies

Sasser is a product of Red Oak High School. The guard went on to play four seasons for the Houston Cougars. While with the Cougars, he played 107 games, averaging 29 minutes and 13.6 points per game. During the four years Sasser was in Houston, the team made the NCAA tournament three times, including a Final Four appearance in 2021.

The guard is an elite shooter, especially behind the three-point line, averaging 37% over his college career. Other than perimeter shots, Sasser can handle a dribble and drive to the basket. The concern, per Rotowire, is Sasser’s age. He will be 23 in his rookie season. It may lower his ceiling compared to other prospects.

Sasser will join the Memphis Grizzlies, who will be without Ja Morant early in the season because of his 25-game suspension. He will also join Fort Worth legend and TCU alum Desmond Bane.

Jordan Walsh

▪ Picked 38th overall by the Sacramento Kings

Walsh is a big man, through and through. He’s a 6-foot-7 forward that came from DeSoto. He attended Faith Family Academy in Oak Cliff for three years before playing his senior year at Link Academy in Branson, Mo. After high school, Walsh played his freshman year at Arkansas. During that season, Walsh played in 36 games, averaging 24.4 minutes and 7.1 points per game. He was good from the free-throw line, hitting 71 percent of his shots.

Rotowire says Walsh should fit in as a good forward, based on his size and athleticism. They commend his ability to drive to the rim and use his arm length to his advantage defensively and offensively.

Walsh will head to Sacramento to help the Kings try to improve on their last season’s playoff appearance where they were knocked out by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

Jalen Wilson

▪ Picked 51st overall by the Brooklyn Nets

Wilson is a forward who attended Denton Guyer. With the Kansas Jayhawks, he played in 104 games, averaging 30.6 minutes and 14.2 points per game. He helped Kansas continue its streak of making the NCAA tournament, including winning it all in 2022.

The forward has shown his strengths as a good outside shooter with a consistent shot despite shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc. He will likely be guarding bigger guards and smaller wings when he hits the league. His 8.3 rebounds show an area he has potential to improve and grow.

He’ll get that chance with Brooklyn, who recently lost big names like James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Mike Miles Jr.

▪ Was not drafted

The Lancer and TCU poiint guard was not selected in the draft. He helped the Horned Frogs reach the NCAA tournament twice in his three-year career. In those three seasons, he played in 83 games, averaging 33 minutes and 15.6 points per game. Before attending TCU, the guard played for Lancaster High School.

He’s not the tallest point guard, but he makes up for it with his strength, explosiveness and ability to handle the ball. The biggest issue with Miles will be his short stature going up against the big men of the league.

The Athletic reported late Wednesday that he signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Maverics after the draft ended.

Others not drafted

Drew Timme came out of Richardson High School along with Wallace. He then went on to play four full years for the Gonzaga Bulldogs as a forward. In that stretch, he played a whopping 134 games, averaging 27 minutes and 17.2 points per game. He helped the Bulldogs make a few appearances to the NCAA tournament, including making the national championship game in 2021, where they came in as the runner-up.

Others expected to sign as free agents with NBA camp invites or sign international contracts include TCU guard Damion Baugh, Denton Guyer’s De’Vion Harmon and North Crowley’s Grant Sherfield.