The NBA has a way of playing immobile big men off the floor, which could be a fatal flaw for Kessler. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. 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. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. 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). 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. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. 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. For the Tigers, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. While Kessler doesn't fit the profile of the floor-stretching 5 coveted by NBA teams, rim protection will always have a place in the Association. Field Goals. Cody Taylor - USA Today - Apr. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. 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. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to . Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . Kessler was a good post-up defender in college, which will need to translate for him to fully hit his defensive upside. For more information, please see our Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . Spin . Gambling Problem? 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. Shows flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on the floor. Worst Case Scenario**:** G League/3rd string big man that isnt impactful enough defensively to get minutes in the NBA. 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Auburn C Walker Kessler, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Southland Conference Tournament. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the same season. 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 View stats, analysis and highlights. Contact us here: hoopshype@hoopshype.com, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Hes a very similar player to Lopez in terms of athleticism and defensive ability, so it would be a seemingly smooth transition into the next generation for the Bucks at the 5. Despite the prolific season, Kessler certainly has a lot of areas to clean up on that end of the floor. While the Mavs do need a defensive anchor that could roll to the rim and shoot, the roll factor is minimal because of his slow speed. #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! His lack of strength hinders his ability to score and guard in the post as well. A&M-Corpus Christi. This was also the strength of Kessler at Auburn, he set an NCAA record last season in block rate. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. 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. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. This weakness paired with his lack of vertical athleticism is a bit alarming. Five-star Class of 2020 center prospect Walker Kessler committed late Sunday night to Roy Williams and North Carolina, a decision that came on the heels of an official visit this weekend to UNC . Additionally, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently. For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. Out of the league after his rookie deal. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . Walker Kessler Ranger --hidden-- Since '19; . Rotowire Feb 26, 2023. Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. Best Case Scenario: Works his way into a starting role anchoring a great playoff-team defense. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Walker Kessler. The 7-foot-1 North Carolina transfer announced his decision . Menu. This site is now updating for the 2022-2023 season. Do you find this scouting report inaccurate/outdated? Get the latest news and updates on Walker Kessler from The Athletic. Auburn Tigers lead . Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . Alabama. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Cookie Notice 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Defenders are able wall up and get him off balance on his jump hooks and post fades. For the most part, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his bag on the offensive end. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. 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. A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. He stands at 71, 256 lbs, with a 74 wingspan comparable to Moses Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Jakob Poeltl, and Willie Cauley-Stein. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the . Wilson later denied the report: "I never wanted them fired." a day ago. "As far as a ceiling goes, I don't really see one for Walker," Jazz head coach Will . Kessler's length, mobility, and rim protection give him a unique skill set, allowing him to provide great impact on an NBA floor. Kessler scores a majority of his points in the paint off of dunks and alley-oops. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 3 POSITION: 3 REGIONAL: 1 STATE: 14th. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot . Maybe even the weather. 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. Injury Reports; Player Notes; Player Props New; NBA Roster Changes; Can't Cut List; Stat Corrections; Research. 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. If he can get 6-10 PPG just from PNRs, FTs, OREBs, and dump offs, thats more than enough. 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. 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. Big men who protect the rim have clear value in their translation to the NBA. 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. 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. one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Walker Kessler: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. Articles. . Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. Theres better, more realistic, upside plays for big man in the draft. But let's try to bounc Orlando Magic win draft lottery, get No. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. Office: The market did not record new supply in Q3 2022, the total cumulative supply of Grade A and B is still 1.43 million sqm of office space. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. 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. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. 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. Hes got a nice touch around the rim and from mid range and should continue to expand his range over the next few years. and our 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). He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. If you think highly of Brook Lopez, then I dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler. Jazz's Walker Kessler: Game-high 12 boards, five blocks. Heres a look at Auburn C Walker Kessler. Many of the strengths of Kessler get neutralized by NBA tempo, which could be quick to play him out of the league. 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. Hes a smart player and you cant teach IQ and awareness. with Ice Coverage. He was a consensus 5-star prospect coming out of high school . 3 Auburn into No. Office . Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . The Milwaukee Bucks hold the 24th overall pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. Thats the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. 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. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. 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. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft. In a league where most players have mastered playing around length, Kessler will need to iron that out quickly. Below are some of his strengths and weaknesses: Obviously this is the main skill with Kessler. We break down Auburn C Walker Kessler with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. Walker Kessler. At 71, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. Walker Kessler is a lock top 60 guy and I think has to be considered a fringe 1st rounder at this point. 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. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! 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. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. Projection . 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. 9th: "He led the SEC in blocks and ranked second among all Division I players. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. Fairburn, GA - 2020. 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. 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) . The 7'1" 5 star center came into college in a tough way. 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. D raft E xpress. Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. Tim Connelly and the rest of the front office seemed to fill some of those holes with their first-round pick in Kessler. 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. One of this draft class' top defensive prospects won't be doing on-field work at the NFL Scouting Combine. Can run the floor. Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . UFC 285 Main Card Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook. 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. Here goes. 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. 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. 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. Heres how he projects at the next level. Im not expecting him to be a double-digit boards guy for his career. Analysis. 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. 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. His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% were 15.3%, 21%, and 18%. But he doesnt stay disciplined. Scan this QR code to download the app now. 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. Defensive upside flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on floor... Those holes with their first-round pick in the paint off of dunks and alley-oops Draft scouting Report has offensive. To register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the Draft then I dont see why you think. String big man in the sports world, emailed daily 18 % Draft POSITION more than enough:. 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game -- Since & # ;... 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