Jarace Walker 2023 NBA Draft Scouting Report
Jarace Walker Scouting Profile:
- Height/Weight/Age: 6’7″/249 lbs/19 years old
- Primary Position: Power Forward
- Freshman Season Stats: 11.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 46.5% FG, 34.7% 3P, 66.3 FT%, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.5 TOPG
Strengths: Athleticism, Defense, Playmaking
The area where I think Walker will shine the brightest immediately is as a defender. With his 7-foot-3 wingspan and a 38-inch vertical, he can be a great help-side rim protector at the four.
Jarace Walker with the steal and slam! pic.twitter.com/5GahRlUhM4
— Pawd Slama Jama (@PawdSlamaJama) January 8, 2023
In smaller line-ups as an undersized five, he can be a smart pick-and-roll defender and defensive anchor.
I’m absolutely in love with how great Jarace Walker is with his rotations, rim protection, and team defense.
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 8, 2023
He’s a super impactful defender that can makes plays happen defensively which. He has a great feel and a high IQ defensively which allows him to consistently make plays… pic.twitter.com/wNPBcAfiBe
And in the switch-heavy modern NBA, Walker will also be a capable point-of-attack and off-ball perimeter defender.
I'm telling you there hasn't been anyone better than Jarace Walker at using his chest to guard 1v1 the last few years. Just a tremendous display of his strength to stop the drive then the length to block the shot pic.twitter.com/XNUpc5rXRo
— The Amateur NBA Analyst (@droppingdimes20) March 24, 2023
Walker can be effective in virtually every role on defense and is a defensive playmaker, where he averaged over a steal and a block per game last season.
Finally, Walker is a developed playmaker for a guy his size. He’s shown an ability to handle in space, pass out of the short roll and be utilized in many ways offensively. Houston routinely used Walker as a secondary ball-handler out of pin-downs and dribble hand-offs to open up the floor. With space to operate, Walker also showcased some mid-range and floater touch.
Jarace Walker’s best skill on the offensive end is his overall passing ability.
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 8, 2023
He excels as a short-roll decision-maker as he makes very quick decisions and has vision. He can really pass while on the move.
Walker isn’t talked about enough as one of the best passing forwards… pic.twitter.com/wEWJn9sGj4
Shot doesn't fall but I'm a massive fan of this two man game here, Jarace Walker gets the blowby with his burst and makes the nice drop off into the post and pops back out to three for the great kickout from J'Wan Roberts pic.twitter.com/QiZbtChsfo
— Cooper Klein (@Alley_Oop_Coop) January 18, 2023
Jarace Walker is pretty versatile on the offensive end but it’s unique to see a player at 6’8”, 240 pounds utilize the floater like he does. He has a pretty soft touch on a lot of floaters around the rim which is encouraging for his shooting upside. pic.twitter.com/7ASRA6ifSH
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 8, 2023
Weaknesses: On-Ball Creation, Shot Selection, Spacing
My primary concern with Jarace Walker’s scouting profile is how he’s limited as an off-ball or screener role as a scorer right now. Walker ranked in the bottom 25th percentile in isolation, roll-man and post-up for points per possession last season.
He also doesn’t have a great handle and can’t break down defenders in isolation right now. So, unless the team that drafts him is running deliberate actions for him, his teammates will likely have to manufacture most of his points. Straight-up scoring might be an initial issue. But, Walker should immediately attack closeouts at a high level, and provide value as a roll-man and pick-and-popper.
6’8 240lbs Houston freshman Jarace Walker play-type summary
— NBA University (@NBA_University) March 4, 2023
Very strong and versatile with a 7’2 wingspan—playing great basketball for one of the best teams in the country. Exciting short-roll and hand-off playmaker in the half-court and runaway train in transition. Fun talent. pic.twitter.com/JlLaztIYy2
When Jarace Walker actually makes contact on his screens his combination of handle and athleticism is DEADLY in the PNR pic.twitter.com/I9i6zqhxE5
— Cooper Klein (@Alley_Oop_Coop) March 14, 2023
Additionally, I’m slightly concerned with Walker’s decision-making on offense regarding shot selection and quality. Walker was a big fan of settling for tough mid-range and post shots in his sole season at Houston. It’s encouraging for his long-term scoring upside that Walker can knock down tough buckets, but you’d like to see a guy his size play through contact and get to the interior more often.
Sweet mid-range jumper by Jarace Walker pic.twitter.com/wc3rwtT9NB
— Francesco Semprucci (@fra_sempru) February 17, 2023
Finally, I’m concerned with Walker is how effectively he’ll be able to space the floor off-ball at the next level. The bulk of Walker’s scoring came off spot-ups, where he averaged 3.7 PPG on 4.3 possessions per game. He can hit tough shots, but Walker was just a 34.7 percent 3-point shooter and a 66.3 percent free-throw shooter last season. Only time will tell how effective he will be as a catch-and-shooter and off-ball scorer.
Jarace Walker shot the 3 ball well tonight too. Showed a little bit of shot versatility, not just all C&S 3's. That first pump fake side step 3 was pretty NICE. pic.twitter.com/hDNb5YOzf5
— Drew Gooden's Suit (@drewgoodenssuit) February 6, 2023
Best NBA Fit: Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers
As Walker will be primarily utilized as an off-ball scorer right now, he needs to go somewhere with a lead playmaker who can set him up for easy buckets. Ideal fits are at home in Houston with Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, in Detroit with Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham, or in Indiana with Tyrese Haliburton.
NBA Comparison: Supercharged Julius Randle
Keep in mind that these are long-term and not immediate NBA projections. Jarace Walker provides more immediate and long-term defensive impact than Randle, but I think his offensive ceiling is similar. Both are bulldozers that are most effective in getting downhill to the rim but tend to settle for tough looks.
Obviously, Randle is a better tough shot-maker right now, but both are streaky shooters that can knock down difficult shots. I think Walker is a better athlete who can be a more efficient and winning player in the long run.
Draft Projection: Top-10 Pick
All things considered; Walker is a lock to be a top-10 pick with the potential to go top-5. With his athleticism, defense and youth, few prospects in this draft class offer the immediate two-way value and long-term upside that Walker provides.
How do you think his scouting profile projects to be? Let us know in the comments!
Another day, another huge Jarace Walker game
— The Box and One (@TheBoxAndOne_) January 29, 2023
Showed the floater early, then was versatile & impactful in Spain PNR. Worked out of post-ups. Hit some really tough late-clock shots late. Did so much on O while being consistently solid on D
Love his game for the NBA. Top-10 target pic.twitter.com/ccdTeqZybS
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