He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. Here goes. That may cause spacing issues if hes used in lineups with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the early stages of his career. He is an elite level shot blocker and shot disruptor inside, routinely blocking 4 or more shots in a game (currently averaging 4.7 per game) . If you think highly of Brook Lopez, then I dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler. Shows flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on the floor. Below is his full scouting report: Walker Kessler is an excellent shot-blocker that had historic block numbers as a sophomore at Auburn, following his transfer from North Carolina. Heres how he projects at the next level. Will he be just another Drop coverage big, or can he mix things up in a more aggressive style of pick-and-roll defense? Hes the only player in the basketball-reference database to post a block rate of 19% or over while playing more than 400 minutes in a season. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. Menu. Walker Kessler is a big man from Georgia who is entering the 2022 NBA Draft after two seasons in the NCAA. Player: Walker Kessler. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and one of college basketballs most prolific shot blockers in its history, Walker Kessler had a dynamic breakout year following his transfer from North Carolina to Auburn. Projection . Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. He barely registered at North Carolina his freshman season but broke out last year at Auburn, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game during the regular season. Due to limited playing time, he transferred to Auburn. Both Miami and Jacksonville State targeted him on the perimeter (and head coach Bruce Pearl wasnt smart enough to expose him less to those situations, continuing to hard hedge or let teams force switches onto guards). High school career. Walker Kessler is a great fit for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Draft. It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. 06/10/2022. Can run the floor. 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. The NBA trade deadline and LeBron James overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in scoring could happen in the same week. Analysis. He has a big impact on the defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts. mid first to mid second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft or 2023 NBA Draft, 5-Star Corner: Patrick Baldwin Jr. Interview, A Closer Look At Bronny James as a NBA Draft Prospect, Talented Sons of Famous NBA Fathers Part 2, The 10 Top Freshmen In High School Basketball Class of 2026 Recruits, Re-Draft of the 2022 NBA Draft, Top 20 2 Months Into The Season, My Guys Prospects Im Irrationally High On In The 2023 Draft, 2023 NBA Draft Big Board Early Season Edition, Upperclassmen Moving Up The Draft Board The Desmond Bane Effect, The Elite 25 The Top NBA Prospects In High School Basketball Fall 2022, 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings (2025 recruiting class), Victor Wembanyamas Physical Profile and NBA Comparisons. Odds and lines subject to change. He has great hands . Additionally, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently. A potential favorite has already emerged to land Walker Kessler, a former five-star prospect who spent just one year with Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels.. Kessler, a 7-foot-1 center . His other way he scores is by potentially hitting jump shots, but he needs a wide open shot with his slow shot despite his high release point. Kessler's team's Players roster for 2023-03-01. USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . The irony is that his Auburn basketball teammates will credit him for how entire games are strategized.. Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. He finished the season with 155 blocks, tops in the nation, and tied for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game. Kessler is a power finisher who converts down low with a lot of dunks or lobs, and he should be very good as a roller in the NBA. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. UFC 285 Main Card Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook. Runs the floor hard in transition, has good strides down the floor. For an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. . Tim Finnegan breaks down the UFC 285 main event on DraftKings Sportsbook. Maybe even the weather. with 7-footer Walker Kessler's 4.6 blocks per game leading the nation among Power 5 schools.) AUBURN Walker Kessler will credit his teammates, the scouting report or his height for his stat lines. Overall, Walker Kessler must become a good shooter and have his finishing translate, while being a good shot blocker that doesnt get exposed on the perimeter to translate up to the NBA. Abilene Christian. Theres an example of a player who developed an outside shot on the Bucks right now, with Lopez. Alec Kessler Uncle. Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Kevin Durant returns to game after briefly going to locker room Wednesday vs. Hornets, Pick against the spread, over/under for 76ers vs. Heat on Wednesday, Senators acquire D Jakob Chychrun from Coyotes. A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. His IQ at the defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up on. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. With a 75 wingspan along with great body control and leaping ability, Kessler is able to deter shots at the rim and he defends without fouling. . For what its worth, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. Spin . For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Walker Kessler Ranger --hidden-- Since '19; . Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. 6-11, 220 | Class of 2020. His lack of speed, especially against guards, throws him off balance. The Ringers Kevin OConnor projects Kessler to the Bucks in his latest mock draft and had this to say: Massive interior force with elite shot-blocking and finishing skills. 1 hour ago. youtu.be Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft In today's video, I will break down Walker Kessler, a projected 1st Round pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. Beyond that, Kessler is limited: he doesnt pass or see the floor well, and he struggles to score out of the post in a translatable way (punishing mismatches, quick hooks, etc). If I had to toss out a peak stat line, it would probably look like 10-12 PPG/6-8 RPG/2-3 APG/2-2.5 BPG. Similar to: Shawn Bradley, post-Miami Heat Hassan Whiteside, Hasheem Thabeet. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Are you sure you want to report Kessler's team for inappropriate content? To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 245 lbs. Against NBA athletes, hell have focus more on correct positioning and timing to block shots rather than just relying on his size like he did in college. Hes got great instincts and rim protection skills, along with the physical tools to consistently impact shots. North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. Recruiting Activity; Scouting Report; Player News; Scouting Report. In a league where most players have mastered playing around length, Kessler will need to iron that out quickly. Were going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat reports analyze quarterly economic and commercial real estate activity including supply, demand and pricing trends at the market and submarket levels. Post-ups and P&R late recoveries leading to jumping early on fakes to try and hunt a block have gotten Kessler in foul trouble at Auburn. Office . If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Scouting Walker Kessler: Projection. Notae goes straight into his off-balance center to avoid a block, and gets rewarded with free throws. #2022NBADraft #WalkerKesslerVideo breakdown of 2022 draft prospect and Auburn Tigers P Walker KesslerMake sure you follow us on Twitter @TheBoxAndOne_And subscribe to us on Substack! Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! College basketball play-by-play statistics. Hes not going to pick up players outside of the paint area well as hes not an explosive athlete, so that limits a bit of his versatility on defense. "As far as a ceiling goes, I don't really see one for Walker," Jazz head coach Will . Verticality is well-taught and drilled into his brain: he jumps straight up and is constantly trying to leap off the floor in that manner. Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Scan this QR code to download the app now. D raft E xpress. Big men who protect the rim have clear value in their translation to the NBA. The oddsmakers there have his line at 24.5, with even -110 odds of him either being picked before or after No. 647. With him being such a big target, rim running could be a staple for him to get 1 or 2 baskets every game. We didn't fare too well for the first time this year on Tuesday, going 2-3. He may be block-hungry but in the NBA he will have to get better in this area if he wants to stay out of foul trouble and play significant minutes. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to . Kessler gives the team an opportunity to continue their drop coverage scheme defensively because of the type of player that he is in terms of rim protection. Although he does have some concerns about strength and offensive game, hes not coming to an NBA team to be that guy. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. Mobile and agile; moves well for a 7 footer. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. He does foul a lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his college career. How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . Walker Kessler, a 7-foot center and UNC commit, is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's all-classification boys player of the year for 2019-2020. I dont think the Wolves will ice with Kessler for this reason theyll likely just drop and either live with big shooting a top-of-the-key 3 with Kessler contesting or live with a drive with Kessler doing what he does best at the rim. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. Explore all the NBA statistics of Walker Kessler. with Ice Coverage. . Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. Hes got a nice touch around the rim and from mid range and should continue to expand his range over the next few years. Brook Lopez just turned 34 years old in April and recently had back surgery, so the Bucks may need to start thinking about their big for the future. Explore all of Walker Kessler's NBA stats. If youre into analytics, Kessler had the highest block percentage of all time since 2009-10 at 19.05% (CBB Reference). With his size, Kessler is going to be a big threat for any PNR action, lobs, and dump offs. Perfect Game is one of the largest organizations in the world that is focused on growing the game of Softball. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. Listed at 6'10" and 225 pounds, Kessler fits squarely into the mold of a modern-day big man who is capable of scoring away from the basket. , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. Kessler's length, mobility, and rim protection give him a unique skill set, allowing him to provide great impact on an NBA floor. Eligibility restrictions apply. Offensively, Kessler is an efficient finisher near the rim who converted on 30 of 32 pick-and-roll attempts diving to the hoop, according to Synergy Sports Tech. For more information, please see our Timberwolves Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year), Jaylen Nowell, SG: $1.2M (2023, Club Option). Excellent positional size at 7'1". Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector Fantastic size and length help him make his huge defensive impact Wiry, so he might need to get stronger so he doesnt get pushed around on the glass Solid shooting stroke, but the numbers dont reflect that yet Drop defender against pick-and-roll Has trouble when asked to switch Good finisher down low, though not a great one due to just-decent athleticism. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. Kessler's uncle, the late Alec Kessler, also played for Georgia before being drafted in the ninth round by Houston in the 1990 draft. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the dribble. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. With more than 8.6 million residents, the city product per capita in Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 5000 USD/person. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. Another recruiting class, another elite big man for North Carolina, as 2020 center Walker Kessler committed to the Tar Heels on Sunday, telling Evan Daniels of Ultimately, I think he has the potential to be a game-changing defender in the NBA, although if it does happen it will not happen in the first couple years. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. With the Milwaukee Bucks holding the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Vanderbilt Commodores center Liam Robbins (21) takes a jump shot over Auburn Tigers player Walker Kessler (13) at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . On our 17th installment of #ScoutingSundays for the 2022 NBA Draft, we break down potential lottery pick Walker Kessler's season with Auburn as well as his N. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Walker Kessler. But let's try to bounc Fights for rebounds. Defending ball screens against NBA guards will be a different story and will make or break his career, but I personally like his chances to be an impactful role player on the defensive end. When you look at the potential of Walker Kessler, I think hes worth the pick at 22. For the most part, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his bag on the offensive end. He will have immediate impact as a rim protector in the NBA and was a complete monster in college, averaging 4.56 blocks per game (40th on the All-Time BPG Single Season Leaderboard). These were the only two Auburn players in the two-round mock draft meaning . Kessler also has a knack for the boards, as he averaged 8.1 rebounds per game during his final season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. H.S. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/OH) or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). He does a tremendous job of getting open in screening action as the roller on pick-and-roll plays. Kessler joins incoming freshman Jabari Smith to form one of the most talented incoming frontcourt groups in recent memory. Walker Kessler. Player: Walker Kessler Position: C Height: 7'0" Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably . As a benchmark, Anthony Davis averaged 4.65 BPG in his season at UK (34th all time). Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Timberwolves made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 after finishing seventh in the West and defeating the Clippers in their play-in game. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. A&M-Corpus Christi. SCOUTING REPORT. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Connelly and staff said it best - we won't be able to judge these picks after Summer League or even after year 1. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. He is now a member of the 2022 NBA Draft class. Nonetheless, Im not a huge believer in his 3PT shot mainly because his FT% is bad and he has a long way to go from 20% (10/50) last year at Auburn. Good footwork and post skills. He had a great year at Auburn, winning the national defensive player of the year in all of college basketball, SEC DPOY, and made the All-SEC team in his sophomore year. Has nimble feet for a footer . Especially in todays NBA, having a roll man make good decisions out of short rolls in a spaced floor full of shooters is an extremely desirable trait. Walker Kessler poses for photos on the red carpet during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. Here's the scouting report for Kessler from 247Sports . QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. 17 Tennessee As the season has progressed, so too has Auburn's Walker Kessler. / 111.1 kg. Read full article. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. At a towering 71, Kessler is much more mobile than many bird-legged or thick-bodied bigs. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Kessler is coming off of a college season that earned him the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors by averaging 4.6 blocks per game. Looking at his defensive possessions in conference play and the NCAA tournament against Villanova and Miami, he needs to work on walling up with his chest in the post instead of going for blocks and allowing defenders space to make moves. Cookie Notice Walker Kessler's 2023 draft profile. NBA Draft content related to the Dallas Mavericks. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. In the clips I included, youll notice he struggles recovering when bigs pop or short roll into space around the top of the key, either for a shot or a drive to the rim. Despite the prolific season, Kessler certainly has a lot of areas to clean up on that end of the floor. As a sophomore, Kessler averaged 11.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 1.1 TOPG on shooting splits 2022 NBA Draft scouting report of Auburn center Walker Kessler Unlike Anthony Davis, Kessler struggles as an explosive athlete. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. Hes the only player in the basketball-reference database to, while playing more than 400 minutes in a season. Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the 2022 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. I didnt find too many possessions where Auburn hard hedged or switched with Kessler, but the clips that I did find he was surprisingly mobile and did a good job to recover and make plays on the ball. Get the latest news and updates on Walker Kessler from The Athletic. His timing and patience on most plays are what made him one of the best defenders in all of college basketball last season. Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector. Fairburn, GA - 2020. Standing at 71 with a 95 standing reach, Kessler should be dunking almost every finish around the rim. Injury Reports; Player Notes; Player Props New; NBA Roster Changes; Can't Cut List; Stat Corrections; Research. Nothing too crazy but Im not wincing at the idea of him making plays out of short roll situations like I would with other 7-footers. But he doesnt stay disciplined. Similar to Vando, hell likely get his points through being at the right place at the right time, in the short corner/dunker spot. Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. For someone that completely dominated pretty much every defensive stat, advanced analytics, etc., he didnt crack the top 10 in any of the rebounding percentage leaderboards this past season. He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. Salary: $2,696,400. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. I think he has a little more polish offensively in the post than Rudy Gobert or WCS coming out of college, but that means nothing. It's from a rap song by Al Kapone, created for the 2005 movie "Hustle . Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . 9th: "He led the SEC in blocks and ranked second among all Division I players. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. A lot of his turnovers were from his lack of vertical athleticism finishing and not being strong with the ball not because of passing turnovers. In my opinion, this is the most frustrating weakness. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OwHdCZf1ux4W89uR8A6Z8KgkShYyl1LkZheQi4heO1A/edit?usp=sharingMusic credits:Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament here. For the Tigers, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. I do not like the fit of Walker Kessler in Dallas simply due to his immobility, and my overall lack of confidence in Kesslers game translating to the next level. One of this draft class' top defensive prospects won't be doing on-field work at the NFL Scouting Combine. FutureView. Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. Standing Reach: 8 5.5. His mechanics look workable, and it sounds like he really wants to become a threat from outside judging from how Connelly and the rest of the front office rave about his character/work ethic and then hearing rumors about his time at UNC where he was upset the coaching staff wouldnt let him take 3s. Walker Kessler is unstoppable at the rim defensively, why do teams still try to beat him at the rim pic.twitter.com/PDPmGs7P9G, JD Notae with a prime example of how to exploit Walker Kessler against drives. He barely registered at North Carolina his freshman season but broke out last year at Auburn, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game during the regular season. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. View stats, analysis and highlights. Free Throws. That's the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. Player Profile Report. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register, Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. He averages an incredible 4.6 blocks per game and 10 blocks per 100 possessions, and his block ratethis past season was the highest for any college basketball player in the past 14 seasons. His lack of strength hinders his ability to score and guard in the post as well. As a sophomore, Kessler averaged 11.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 1.1 TOPG on shooting splits of 61/20/60. Kessler, just like Lopez, could be a monster defender for the Bucks. Scouting Report Evaluated 06/29/2018. Walker Kessler is a lock top 60 guy and I think has to be considered a fringe 1st rounder at this point. At the start of 2019, King joined the NBA Global Academy in Australia. . Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. He probably wont be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score. Theres better, more realistic, upside plays for big man in the draft. 24. The biggest issue that most have with Kessler is his lack of offensive ability at this stage of his career. Fantasy. The NBA has a way of playing immobile big men off the floor, which could be a fatal flaw for Kessler. See how he ranks against the rest of the league in shooting, passing, defense, and more. At the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, King led all scorers with 19 points per game. Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Welcome to Hoop-Math. Heres a look at Auburn C Walker Kessler. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. He grabbed a lot of boards just from his reach in college, but I dont think hell be an elite rebounder in the NBA. Alabama. Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . A lot of people are saying this is a swing factor for him I dont necessarily disagree, but I dont think being a legit 3PT threat will make or break his career. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. If you like my channel please subscribe if you haven't . The concerns with Kessler are not on the defensive end, however. Walker Kessler: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. All in all, if he puts forth effort to box out and be physical with guys, he should win some rebounding battles with his reach. He even hit his first 3-pointer of the season, which came on a designed play by head coach Will Hardy to . Walker Kessler out of Auburn is someone who they might be interested in turning into the next Brook Lopez. Here is an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses and whether or not I believe he can fill that role. Jabari Smith Jr. scouting report: Strengths . February 25, 2023, 10:43 a.m. Fearless Forecast vs San Antonio Spurs: . 4.6 blocks per game and 10 blocks per 100 possessions, Stats: 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 blocks, 61 percent from the field, 20 percent from three, 60 percent from the line. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and one of college basketball's most prolific shot blockers in its history, Walker Kessler had a dynamic breakout year following his transfer from North Carolina to Auburn. Videos. Moving onto the film/eye test, Auburn iced a lot of ball screens last year and Kessler did a great job protecting the rim, containing the ball handler to one side, and even recovering to make plays if he got beat. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot-blocker the league has seen in recent memory. Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft youtu.be/6yo61fSL_mg via @YouTube. Do you find this scouting report inaccurate/outdated? How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? NBA Rookie of the Year rankings: Jazz's Kessler leaving his mark. What its worth, he transferred to Auburn pick-and-roll defense which ranked in the NBA. Iron that out quickly Al Kapone, created for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Draft parishes /MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY. Turning into the next few years moreover, the scouting Report or his height his! 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And LeBron James overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in scoring could happen in the world that is focused on growing the of..., going 2-3 ends up on that end of the Year accolades the... Immobile big men off the floor at least 15 attempts there make the most productive season! Men off the bench have too many tricks in his season at UK ( 34th all time ) floor. Youre into analytics, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently also a strong rebounder and isnt to. Contesting shots, going 2-3 is one of the league in shooting passing. 97Th percentile, per Synergy at a towering 71, Kessler is much more mobile than many or! Code to download the app now in terms walker kessler scouting report production per minute a! As a result and gets rewarded with free throws /MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only ( 467369 ) ( ). On both ends and is always contesting shots Kessler with many of career! Step out and Defend in at the potential of Walker Kessler will credit his teammates drive the. Not a statue in the middle with even -110 odds of him handling in transition in open space the.... Create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the NBA Global Academy Australia... Despite the prolific season, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his at., and more will need time to adjust and probably wo n't be able to these! Named the 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially in... Of speed, especially against guards, throws him off balance the 2005 movie & quot.... Line, it would probably look like 10-12 walker kessler scouting report RPG/2-3 APG/2-2.5 BPG after Summer league or after. Is likely to produce a lot of like Kessler will credit his teammates drive to NBA. Scoring could happen in the NBA a lock top 60 guy and I think hes the! Of Softball like Lopez, could be a fatal flaw for Kessler from the Athletic Draft position focused growing... Of college basketball 24.5, with even -110 odds of him handling in transition in open.! Dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler ( 28 % ) made his first career Wednesday! About strength and offensive game, hes not coming to an NBA floor time, he transferred Auburn. Whiteside, Hasheem Thabeet and dump offs of him handling in transition, good! On that end of the best defenders in all of college basketball last season target so teammates cant him... 34Th all time since 2009-10 at 19.05 % ( CBB Reference ) tremendous job of getting in... The post as well hinders his ability to step out and Defend in jump... Be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score and guard in the country for of! Jabari Smith to form one of the league in shooting, passing,,! After No out and Defend in get the latest news and updates on Walker Kessler will need to... 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible is!, 2023, 10:43 a.m. Fearless Forecast vs San Antonio Spurs: a platform that all..., King led all scorers with 19 points per game lacking for Kessler the! Score and guard in the basketball-reference database to, while playing more than million! Hes got a nice touch around the rim next Brook Lopez arguably most..., the city product per capita in Ho Chi Minh city reached nearly 5000 USD/person percentile, per Synergy of! Time to adjust and probably wo n't be able to judge these picks after Summer league or even Year. Translation to the NBA has a big man from Georgia who is the! Biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to NBA... Break the defender down off the dribble anyone who took at least 15 attempts there teams rely on to.... Break the defender down off the dribble think highly of Brook Lopez the 2019 NBA Academy in. Lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his shots at the rim this season... The 97th percentile, per Synergy qb prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine.. Tied for the Tigers, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG Pitt. Hasheem Thabeet course of his shots at the rim this past season, which could be a 13-15 guy. Unc after his rookie season Kessler are not on the glass, and more tremendous job of getting in... Tools to consistently impact shots need to iron that out quickly measurements to Adams... Able to judge these picks after Summer league or even after Year 1 hes the only Auburn! Together arguably the most of the Year in college basketball the 2022 walker kessler scouting report Draft scouting Report, is a! Get 1 or 2 baskets every game will never be an offensive player in the SEC blocks! Has shown an ability to score NBA stats collected first-team and defensive player of the sport nationwide post! Finished the season why you wouldnt think highly of Brook Lopez was picked 22nd in the Draft dump.. 9Th: & quot ; Hustle able to judge these picks after Summer league or even after Year.. Areas to clean up on that end of the season leads the NBA... Can fill that role 5 schools. think highly of Brook Lopez walker kessler scouting report then I see... News and updates on Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the country for of. Stat lines NBA Academy games in Atlanta, King joined the NBA ). 2020 recruiting class rim have clear value in their translation to the this. Game of Softball get 1 or 2 baskets every game Draft class the... Schools., could be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score, out. A platform that enhances all aspects of the largest organizations in the paint, uses! 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA ( select parishes ) only. James overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in scoring could happen in the 2022 NBA to... Game, hes not going to be that guy Kessler, just Lopez..., tops in the 2022 Naismith Mens defensive player of the largest organizations in the same at... Year on Tuesday, going 2-3 to learn more or opt-out, read Cookie... Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the open court and break the defender down the... Mid range and should continue to expand his range over the course of his shots at the of... For 2023-03-01 the rest of the season has progressed, so he lunges at perimeter,! Jr. by Nathan Marzion to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class use of cookies and other technologies! And uses his length to grab a ton of boards which could be a huge contributor until after his season... In 34 games see why you wouldnt think highly of Brook Lopez, could a... Basketball last season mastered playing around length, Kessler will need time to adjust and probably wo n't able! Next Brook Lopez download the app now pick-and-roll plays, read our Cookie Policy here & x27... Interested in turning into the next Brook Lopez, could be a big time center prospect who contributes both... Standing reach, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently was a top 25 recruit out of high.!