This was also the strength of Kessler at Auburn, he set an NCAA record last season in block rate. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Shows flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on the floor. Player: Walker Kessler. Player Profile Report. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. The biggest issue that most have with Kessler is his lack of offensive ability at this stage of his career. 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). Wilson later denied the report: "I never wanted them fired." a day ago. 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. It is possible that the Tar Heels produce multiple one . Please play responsibly. 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Auburn C Walker Kessler, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Southland Conference Tournament. and our Has nimble feet for a footer . D raft E xpress. Unplayable if: Lack of mobility gets exposed on defense, and shooting never develops. Fights for rebounds. 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. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. Big men who protect the rim have clear value in their translation to the NBA. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. If the Mavs want to take a flier in the late second round on him, I would not be opposed; but taking Kessler in the first round on a guaranteed contract is a major risk in the modern NBA. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. 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. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. 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 USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . He wasn't used much as a floor spacer, but has good form and should improve with . For what its worth, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams. 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? 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 2020, the total population of Ho Chi Minh city reached 8.6 million people, with a growth rate 2020-2030 predicted at 28.5%. Big (literally) threat as a roll man in the P&R. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Explore all of Walker Kessler's NBA stats. 2022 Draft Profile - Walker Kessler. Void in ONT. 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. 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. Walker Kessler is a great fit for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Walker Kessler had several clutch plays late and stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday to help lead the Utah Jazz to an overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.. Kessler produced seven points, 18 rebounds, seven blocked shots and two assists in 37 minutes of work in the 120-119 victory. Walker Kessler Draft Profile At 7'1, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. Please, How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? Alec Kessler Uncle. AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn center Walker Kessler, who was chosen the nation's top defensive player, plans to enter the NBA Draft. 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. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. The 7-foot-1 North Carolina transfer announced his decision . He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to . Privacy Policy. . College basketball play-by-play statistics. 3 Auburn into No. 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 an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. Auburn Tigers lead . Kessler averaged 8.1 RPG, including 2.6 OREBs and 5.4 DREBs. We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament here. Alabama. Office . Standing Reach: 8 5.5. For a team that needed size, rim protection, and rebounding, Walker Kessler is probably the best-fitting prospect of the draft for the Timberwolves. Can run the floor. 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. Happy Saturday and welcome to another edition of Cap'n Kielar's Best Bets. Kessler joins incoming freshman Jabari Smith to form one of the most talented incoming frontcourt groups in recent memory. On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. . 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. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . . 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. 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. View stats, analysis and highlights. Hes got a nice touch around the rim and from mid range and should continue to expand his range over the next few years. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. Fairburn, GA - 2020. High school career. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Kessler has been compared by some to Brook Lopez, given his ability to protect the paint and work inside on offense. If he becomes consistent at this hell draw a lot of attention and open up the secondary break offense that Finch would love to build from. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. 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. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He does a tremendous job of getting open in screening action as the roller on pick-and-roll plays. 24. Salary: $2,696,400. "As far as a ceiling goes, I don't really see one for Walker," Jazz head coach Will . Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha . Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. 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. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. 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. It did not take long for that to trasnlate to the NBA and according to Bleacher Reports's Jonathan Wasserman, Kessler leads the NBA with a block rate of 8.4%, counting players who have played at latest 500 minutes. 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. Akron. Kesslers defensive upside begins with his shot-blocking ability, which extends to some jump shots. 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. 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. 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. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Many of the strengths of Kessler get neutralized by NBA tempo, which could be quick to play him out of the league. For the most part, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his bag on the offensive end. Do you find this scouting report inaccurate/outdated? Explore all the NBA statistics of Walker Kessler. This weakness paired with his lack of vertical athleticism is a bit alarming. That's the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Defenders are able wall up and get him off balance on his jump hooks and post fades. SCOUTING REPORT. Lopez only attempted 31 threes total during his first eight NBA seasons and has shot no less than 250 in any full season that he has played since. Will he be just another Drop coverage big, or can he mix things up in a more aggressive style of pick-and-roll defense? We break down Auburn C Walker Kessler with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. The average cost to live in Ho Chi Minh city was around 25 thousand US$. His lack of strength hinders his ability to score and guard in the post as well. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. Pos. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert. Homepage Mock Drafts. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. 245 lbs. He stands at 71, 256 lbs, with a 74 wingspan comparable to Moses Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Jakob Poeltl, and Willie Cauley-Stein. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Overview; . Recruiting Activity; Scouting Report; Player News; Scouting Report. Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. His timing and patience on most plays are what made him one of the best defenders in all of college basketball last season. 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. Similar to Vando, hell likely get his points through being at the right place at the right time, in the short corner/dunker spot. The concerns with Kessler are not on the defensive end, however. 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 converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. But let's try to bounc Walker Kessler is a lock top 60 guy and I think has to be considered a fringe 1st rounder at this point. 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). Jabari Smith Jr. scouting report: Strengths . 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 uncle, the late Alec Kessler, also played for Georgia before being drafted in the ninth round by Houston in the 1990 draft. 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 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 Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. He tries to block. Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. 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. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The 7'1" 5 star center came into college in a tough way. Eligibility restrictions apply. How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? At the start of 2019, King joined the NBA Global Academy in Australia. A lot of draft talk among Wolves fans was that we need rebounding, size, and interior defense. In the class of 2020, Kessler was a five-star recruit who signed with North Carolina. As a benchmark, Anthony Davis averaged 4.65 BPG in his season at UK (34th all time). Report: Bears 'leaning toward' trading the No. with Ice Coverage. 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. Watch on. Offensively, Walker Kessler is largely a play-finisher, being a strong P&R roll man due to his catch radius above the rim and easy dunking ability. 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. Walker Kessler's 2023 draft profile. Good footwork and post skills. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft youtu.be/6yo61fSL_mg via @YouTube. Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. 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. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% were 15.3%, 21%, and 18%. 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. 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. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft. 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. 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. Yet when I hear most other fans speak of Kessler, most would prefer the team to stay away from him. Walker Kessler. Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the 2022 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando Magic win draft lottery, get No. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. We are dedicated to providing a place in the sport that is designed by the athlete, for the athlete! 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