By Art Garcia | @ArtGarcia92

ARLINGTON, Texas - Anthony Walker becomes the latest UT Arlington men's basketball alum to pursue his dream of professional basketball after being selected in the NBA D-League Draft on Saturday. Walker went in the third round to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

The Mad Ants, an affiliate of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, took Walker with the 51st overall selection. Walker spent the last two seasons at UTA, seeing action in 57 games and starting 18 after transferring from South Plains College.

Fort Wayne's season opens Nov. 14 against Raptors 905.

Walker averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds last season for the Mavericks, who went 16-15 and reached the Sun Belt Championship tournament. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 64.3 percent from the floor (54-84) and finished second on the team with 25 blocks.

For his UTA career, Walker averaged 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds. He shot 67.4 percent (97-144) and blocked 47 shots. He averaged 13.8 minutes per game and connected on 59.3 percent of his free throws (32-54).

The high-flying Walker was also part of a NJCAA Championship team with South Plains, which went 36-0 in 2011-12. The San Antonio native is the first member of the 2014-15 Mavericks to play professionally.

Walker joins an impressive list of former student-athletes who played for UT Arlington coach Scott Cross and signed professional contracts, including Derrick Obasohan, Anthony Vereen, Dwight Gentry II, Cardell Hunter, Marquez Haynes, Jarrett Howell, Jermaine Griffin, LaMarcus Reed III, Bo Ingram, Stephen Barber, Jordan Reves, Kevin Butler, Karol Gruszecki, Reger Dowell, Brandon Edwards and Myles Guidry.

UT Arlington men's basketball also begins its season Nov. 14 against Fordham at College Park Center as part of Homecoming Week.

Single game, season tickets or All Sport Passes are available at UTATickets.com or by contacting the College Park Center Box Office at (817) 272-9595.