Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. Homepage Mock Drafts. Good rim protector. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. 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. For an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. 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. This site is now updating for the 2022-2023 season. Walker Kessler. 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. Kessler averaged 8.1 RPG, including 2.6 OREBs and 5.4 DREBs. NBA Rookie of the Year rankings: Jazz's Kessler leaving his mark. 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 . SCOUTING REPORT. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to . He has great hands . 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. I honestly didnt watch many rebounding possessions, but I did try to keep an eye out for his effort to box out and battle for boards. Pos. February 25, 2023, 10:43 a.m. Fearless Forecast vs San Antonio Spurs: . Unplayable if: Lack of mobility gets exposed on defense, and shooting never develops. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 2022 Draft Profile - Walker Kessler. 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). Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. Later in the mock draft, Auburn's Walker Kessler is selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall selection. How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. Kessler is an excellent rebounder with his size and length, grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game last season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. 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. . He is particularly good finishing as a roll man in the pick-and-roll, where he made an incredible 94 percent of his shots rolling to the basket, ranking in the 99th percentile. 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 . Kessler reminds me a lot of Brook Lopez and hes really a development of a three-point shot away from bringing to the table exactly what Lopez does for the Bucks. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. 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. 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. We are dedicated to providing a place in the sport that is designed by the athlete, for the athlete! 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. Mobile and agile; moves well for a 7 footer. Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. 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. 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. Walker Kessler. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. Among them for me is Walker Kessler. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. 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. 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. Free Throws. Here goes. Fantasy. / 111.1 kg. 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. Walker Kessler is a big man from Georgia who is entering the 2022 NBA Draft after two seasons in the NCAA. Jazz's Walker Kessler: Game-high 12 boards, five blocks. He tends to pick up his dribble early instead of continuing to backdown for a better position. 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. pic.twitter.com/K6VLcSwVk4, Walker Kessler is a really good finisher above the rim, especially in traffic. Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. Although he does have some concerns about strength and offensive game, hes not coming to an NBA team to be that guy. 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. Runs the floor hard in transition, has good strides down the floor. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. Pictures & Videos. (All stats provided by Synergy require a subscription). He grabbed a lot of boards just from his reach in college, but I dont think hell be an elite rebounder in the NBA. 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. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. Kessler was a good post-up defender in college, which will need to translate for him to fully hit his defensive upside. Eligibility restrictions apply. Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Standing Reach: 8 5.5. 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. He has a big impact on the defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts. Has nimble feet for a footer . Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. 22 pick in the draft. 1 hour ago. Here's the scouting report for Kessler from 247Sports . Player: Walker Kessler Position: C Height: 7'0" Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably . The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. Most of what Kessler is going to do early on in his career on offense will come from pure heart and hustle on the offensive glass and in designs for him as a screener. 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. Auburn Tigers lead . The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. Analysis. After the pick, I went straight to work watching film on Kessler to see what the Wolves were getting with him. D raft E xpress. Hes a smart player and you cant teach IQ and awareness. 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. Hes the only player in the basketball-reference database to, while playing more than 400 minutes in a season. To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. 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. 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. 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. 24. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Many of the strengths of Kessler get neutralized by NBA tempo, which could be quick to play him out of the league. 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. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. 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. 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. 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