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Atlantic Sun Basketball: In-depth look at Eastern Kentucky PG Leland Walker

By Bryan Mauro

Mar 21, 2023; Daytona, FL, USA; Eastern Kentucky vs Southern Utah during the College Basketball Invitational at Ocean Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2023; Daytona, FL, USA; Eastern Kentucky vs Southern Utah during the College Basketball Invitational at Ocean Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eastern Kentucky vs Southern Utah during the College Basketball Invitational at Ocean Center Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports
Eastern Kentucky vs Southern Utah during the College Basketball Invitational at Ocean Center Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports /

Expectations for Walker in 2023-24

Coach Hamilton has had a lot of success at Eastern Kentucky but it finally looks like he is ready to be a consistent contender in the Atlantic Sun conference. The Colonels have not made the NCAA tournament since the 2013-2014 season but with the roster they have coming back this season the expectation should be the NCAA tournament. If the point guard Walker can take the leap that everything thinks he can make it will be a great year in Richmond.

Darius McGhee from Liberty is no longer in school, Chris Youngblood is no longer in the league, that means that Walker is only going to have to compete with his own teammate in Devontae Blanton for the league Player of the Year. Walker is a guy who got better every game you watched him play a season ago and once he gets used to the speed that coach Hamilton wants to play at and starts to see a few more shots go in he is going to take off.

The point guard can lead the conference in points and assists and can shoot over 40% from deep. If he does those things the Colonels will make the NCAA tournament easily. Walker will be an easy pick for the player of the year and first-team all-conference. All he must do is play to his potential and everything will take care of itself.

The point guard is not going to have to do it alone and he is going to have a lot of guys around him to help him reach the heights he is striving for. The Colonels had their highest win total since 2013-2014. They had wins over Liberty and Kennesaw State a season ago and that entire team is slated to come back for a chance to make the NCAA tournament.

Next. Overall takeaways from 2023 NBA Draft. dark

In addition to Walker and Blanton, the Colonels have three-point specialist Michael Moreno and big man Isaiah Cozart back in Richmond and with Walker looking like a legitimate player of the year winner, Cozart being one of the best shot blockers in the country, Blanton being an elite scorer, and Moreno being a three-point shooter the Colonels have the potential to run away and hide in the Atlantic Sun this season.

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