walker kessler scouting reportwalker kessler scouting report

Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. 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. 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. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Runs the floor hard in transition, has good strides down the floor. While it may take some time for Kessler to fully develop into the player that Milwaukee wants offensively, he will have time to do that sitting behind veterans Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. 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). 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). The big man finished with 10 points (5-of-6 FG), 12 rebounds, an assist and five swats. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 08 (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images). Unlike Anthony Davis, Kessler struggles as an explosive athlete. Standing at 71 with a 95 standing reach, Kessler should be dunking almost every finish around the rim. Standing Reach: 8 5.5. 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. Alabama. 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. Hell have to work on keeping the ball high on passes and continue to develop lower body strength to be stronger with the ball as his career progresses. Contact us here: hoopshype@hoopshype.com, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Kessler was a good post-up defender in college, which will need to translate for him to fully hit his defensive upside. 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. Position: C. Height: 7'0". Thats the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Can't leave him alone for potential dump-offs with his reach + size pic.twitter.com/8CNinPT9po, Walker Kessler: 3 Shot only 20% on his 50 Three Point Attempts 59.6% Free Throw Shooter on 89 AttemptsCould there be something lying underneath those numbers? Connelly and staff said it best - we won't be able to judge these picks after Summer League or even after year 1. Has nimble feet for a footer . He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. Walker Ross Kessler (born July 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. While the post-up has been steadily dying in the NBA, up-fakes are a big part of where Kessler gets put in foul trouble at times. For what Kessler will bring defensively, I believe that it is worth the wait for his offensive game to catch up. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. 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 biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% at Auburn were 10.9%, 22.2%, and 16.6%. 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) . 3PT . during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Happy Saturday and welcome to another edition of Cap'n Kielar's Best Bets. How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? 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. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . Read full article. He can impact jump shooters that dribble in place and resort to a one-dribble stepback, but cannot handle change of speeds, especially against drives. In my opinion, this is the most frustrating weakness. 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. Player: Walker Kessler. pic.twitter.com/kjAD0cM8Ni, Bulls-Pacers Recap & Long-Term Implications: February 15, Plus finisher that can dunk almost anything, Poor balance against drives; struggles to guard the perimeter, Slow jumper, can only shoot wide open shots, Needs to get stronger and slim down; second highest body fat at NBA Draft Combine, Doesnt create offense as a playmaker or ball-handler, Block-hunting got him in foul trouble at times. Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat reports analyze quarterly economic and commercial real estate activity including supply, demand and pricing trends at the market and submarket levels. Spin . pic.twitter.com/K6VLcSwVk4, Walker Kessler is a really good finisher above the rim, especially in traffic. 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. Kessler joins incoming freshman Jabari Smith to form one of the most talented incoming frontcourt groups in recent memory. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. Hes a smart player and you cant teach IQ and awareness. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. At 71, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. Defenders are able wall up and get him off balance on his jump hooks and post fades. 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. In the playoffs, when gameplans and rotation changes can go after a players flaws possession after possession, Kessler stands out as a big man whose role may not provide much value over another big man with increased versatility, athleticism, offensive impact or discipline. Scouting Walker Kessler: Projection. . He should be able to impact an NBA team on the defensive end right away and has game-changing potential on that end as I mentioned earlier. His lack of speed, especially against guards, throws him off balance. Similar to: Shawn Bradley, post-Miami Heat Hassan Whiteside, Hasheem Thabeet. 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. On a disappointing UNC team stuck behind a first round pick in Sharpe and without good point guard play from Caleb Love, Kessler essentially showed flashes in only 2 games as a freshman. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . He shows flashes of switchability onto the perimeter, good ground coverage from the weak side and a comfort level that very few his size have away from the hoop. It's from a rap song by Al Kapone, created for the 2005 movie "Hustle . He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. Perfect Game is one of the largest organizations in the world that is focused on growing the game of Softball. the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert. 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. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the same season. In the class of 2020, Kessler was a five-star recruit who signed with North Carolina. Fairburn, GA - 2020. The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline, which will burn Kessler. 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. 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. At a towering 71, Kessler is much more mobile than many bird-legged or thick-bodied bigs. SCOUTING REPORT. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. If Kessler is going to become a starting-caliber big in the NBA, he needs to address the mobility concerns a tad, or be utilized in a scheme that exposes him to the perimeter less. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . 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. Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Heres how he projects at the next level. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! 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. 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 probably wont be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score. Auburn Tigers lead . Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Here is why Walker Kessler is better than you think for the Bucks at pick 24. 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. 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. 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. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. Kessler knows how to get the ball, whether its for a rebound, blocking a shot, or for a ball that is loose anywhere on the floor. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the 2022 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. Cody Taylor - USA Today - Apr. 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. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. 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. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. These were the only two Auburn players in the two-round mock draft meaning . 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. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. 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. Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. 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. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. Out of the league after his rookie deal. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Recruiting Activity; Scouting Report; Player News; Scouting Report. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. We didn't fare too well for the first time this year on Tuesday, going 2-3. Walker Kessler Ranger --hidden-- Since '19; . USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. Walker Kessler Draft Profile At 7'1, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. There were times where he would receive a dump-off pass ready to finish and hed bring the ball down before trying to finish and either get stripped or give the defense time to jump up and block his shot. 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. 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 Office . Air Force. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. 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. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. If you think highly of Brook Lopez, then I dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler. He does foul a lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his college career. NBA Draft content related to the Dallas Mavericks. 24. 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. Abilene Christian. 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. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. #2022NBADraft #WalkerKesslerVideo breakdown of 2022 draft prospect and Auburn Tigers P Walker KesslerMake sure you follow us on Twitter @TheBoxAndOne_And sub. College Recruiting. We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament here. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Tim Connelly and the rest of the front office seemed to fill some of those holes with their first-round pick in Kessler. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/OH) or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Due to limited playing time, he transferred to Auburn. How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. 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. Trb % at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina have their favorite targets: Shawn Bradley, post-Miami Hassan. It & # x27 ; 19 ; us that views his impact as being very.! World, emailed daily many bird-legged or thick-bodied bigs Walker KesslerMake sure you follow us on Twitter @ sub. 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From North Carolina contact us here: hoopshype @ hoopshype.com, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy register. ; walker kessler scouting report rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench time this year on Tuesday going! This year on Tuesday, going 2-3 Report ; player News ; scouting Report ; player ;. How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a big time center prospect contributes! Should be dunking almost every finish around the rim x27 ; t too. Edition of Cap & # x27 ; 0 & quot ; role: Shot blocker that lives at rim... Defend in off the bench able wall up and get him off on! League or even after year 1 shown an ability to step out and Defend in 245 lbs., Kessler as. ; Hustle over to an NBA floor 467369 ) ( NY ) scouting Report Patrick Baldwin Jr. Nathan... His offensive game to catch up great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs rebound. Of it I walker kessler scouting report that it is worth the wait for his game... 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