Derrick Walker Suspension Reduced To 14 Games

Nebraska Cornhuskers Men’s Basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed late Wednesday that Husker junior forward Derrick Walker’s appeal for a reduced suspension to the NCAA was successful. The Tennessee transfer was given a 16-game suspension that was publicly announced by the Husker program last week for undisclosed NCAA violations he incurred while connected to the Vols program.

Walker was a composite three-star recruit coming out of high school per 247Sports. The 6-foot-8, 235 pound forward hails from Kansas City originally. At Tennessee he saw limited minutes as a true freshman. Walker averaged 1.9 points, 2.2 rebounds per game, and roughly 8 minutes per game that season. As a sophomore, he averaged 0.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per game, and his minutes dropped to just 5.5 per game.

Walker’s violation that incurred a suspension has not been disclosed. The initial 16-game suspension was based on a normal 31 game regular season schedule. Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg issued the following statement at the time:

Since arriving at Nebraska, Derrick Walker has been phenomenal at owning up to a mistake he made prior to coming here. He was transparent throughout the recruiting process and acknowledged his mistake. In turn, we told him confidently we would support and fight for him. In our opinion, the penalty should accurately reflect half of the abbreviated 2020-21 season, which is scheduled to be 27 games.

Walker/Nebraska appealed the suspension based on the point that the 27 game schedule was fewer than a normal season, and the punishment should reflect that. If all scheduled games are played, Walker could suit up and play for the Huskers against Maryland on Jan. 16. That will be delayed if any games are cancelled or postponed to a later date between now and Jan. 16.