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). Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Tim Finnegan breaks down the UFC 285 main event on DraftKings Sportsbook. This weakness paired with his lack of vertical athleticism is a bit alarming. with Ice Coverage. At the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, King led all scorers with 19 points per game. Walker Ross Kessler (born July 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . Position: C. Height: 7'0". He tries to block everything, so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7'1", 245 pounds. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. 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. This was also the strength of Kessler at Auburn, he set an NCAA record last season in block rate. View stats, analysis and highlights. 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. Hometown Fairburn, Ga. . Auburn sophomore post Walker Kessler does that incredibly well and is coming off a legendary, perhaps greatest-of-all-time shot blocking season at the college level. . 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. 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. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. Hes not jumping high to block shots or catch lobs which can be frustrating at times because he misses some easy shots around the rim. Here goes. In 2020, the total population of Ho Chi Minh city reached 8.6 million people, with a growth rate 2020-2030 predicted at 28.5%. Kessler scores a majority of his points in the paint off of dunks and alley-oops. 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. Good footwork and post skills. Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft. Shows flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on the floor. #2022NBADraft #WalkerKesslerVideo breakdown of 2022 draft prospect and Auburn Tigers P Walker KesslerMake sure you follow us on Twitter @TheBoxAndOne_And sub. Additionally, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently. Although he does have some concerns about strength and offensive game, hes not coming to an NBA team to be that guy. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. with 7-footer Walker Kessler's 4.6 blocks per game leading the nation among Power 5 schools.) 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. He tries to block. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of 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. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. At the start of 2019, King joined the NBA Global Academy in Australia. Hes fairly nimble for his size and will be a good screener once he puts on strength. 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. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the dribble. With his size, Kessler is going to be a big threat for any PNR action, lobs, and dump offs. 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. 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. 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. Saw some good passes from him throughout his possession clips, making good reads out of short rolls, finding cutters, Hi-Lo looks from 3PT-line to high post area. But he doesnt stay disciplined. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . Free Throws. 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. 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. Based on your vantage point, he has a very unique relationship with 3-point shooting upside, one that would certainly unlock a new ceiling to make him that rare, tantalizing stretch-5. Kessler's uncle, the late Alec Kessler, also played for Georgia before being drafted in the ninth round by Houston in the 1990 draft. He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. 6-11, 220 | Class of 2020. He probably wont be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score. Can run the floor. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. 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. Player Profile Report. Air Force. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the same season. Gambling Problem? 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. 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. Recruiting Activity; Scouting Report; Player News; Scouting Report. 3PT . Pos. Projection . He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/OH) or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. The most obvious number that jumps out is the blocks, and Kessler is going to wreak havoc in the interior at the next level. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. As a benchmark, Anthony Davis averaged 4.65 BPG in his season at UK (34th all time). Cody Taylor - USA Today - Apr. Best Case Scenario: Works his way into a starting role anchoring a great playoff-team defense. Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. 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. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. pic.twitter.com/K6VLcSwVk4, Walker Kessler is a really good finisher above the rim, especially in traffic. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. He stands at 71, 256 lbs, with a 74 wingspan comparable to Moses Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Jakob Poeltl, and Willie Cauley-Stein. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. (All stats provided by Synergy require a subscription). Rim Protection. 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. He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. 3 POSITION: 3 REGIONAL: 1 STATE: 14th. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . 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. 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. DRAFT SCOUTING REPORTS: Chet Holmgren | Paulo Banchero. His lack of ability in the post and as an outside shooter are valid concerns, but those kinds of things can be developed with NBA coaches and veteran players to help guide him along the way. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . Worst Case Scenario**:** G League/3rd string big man that isnt impactful enough defensively to get minutes in the NBA. Walker Kessler. He should be an elite rim protector at the next level. 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. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. 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). Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. With more than 8.6 million residents, the city product per capita in Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 5000 USD/person. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. 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). College Recruiting. Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector. Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. 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. 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. Follow your favorite teams and leagues for in-depth analysis and expert coverage from the best newsroom in sports. For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. Rotowire Feb 26, 2023. 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. Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Are you sure you want to report Kessler's team for inappropriate content? News: 2 days ago Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 minutes during Saturday's 118-102 win over the Spurs.. Odds and lines subject to change. 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