Age

19.8

Height

6'8"

Weight

240 lbs

Workload

MIN%

65.7

USG%

22.2

TS%

67.2

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

17.8

REB

10.6

AST

2.8

STL

1.7

BLK

1.7

TOV

2.4

Efficiency

RIM FG%

70.7

MID FG%

39.0

3PT FG%

34.4

FT%

61.4

Jump to full report

Report by: Oscar

Jarace Walker

Forward Houston

Active, quick processing big wing with strength and some ball skills

Age

19.8

Height

6'8"

Weight

240 lbs

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

17.8

REB

10.6

AST

2.8

STL

1.7

BLK

1.7

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Jarace Walker

At 6’8/240lbs with a reported 7’2 wingspan, Jarace Walker provides the prototypical blend of length and power that NBA teams covet at the 4 spot. Already a dominant interior player in years prior, the development of Walker’s playmaking skillset last season changed the conversation surrounding the 19-year-old forward. His ascension to (imperfect) point forward status opened a whole new world of possibilities for Walker’s potential development track and NBA roles.

At the core of Walker’s appeal as a prospect is his multifaceted athletic profile. He leverages his explosive leaping ability and lightning-quick load time to dominate the restricted arc on both ends. His rim protection and interior finishing ability should allow him to control the paint in the AAC this season.

He’s also incredibly mobile laterally, able to terrorize ballhandlers as a blitzer or hard hedger. His combination of footspeed, length, and active hands make for a coverage versatile big able to adapt to the playstyle of the opposing team’s best creator. He gave fellow projected lotto pick Dariq Whitehead fits in an early season matchup last year:

Ballhandling Flashes

As good as his traditional big skills are, the larger intrigue with Jarace lies with his flashes of initiation. Last season at IMG, Walker showed tremendous growth as a ball handler and decision maker. While still fairly unpolished in these departments (especially his handle), he showed off enough high feel connective reads in a variety of contexts to be optimistic in his upside as a passer.

Jarace’s self-created offense is still a work in progress, but his burst and shift are both well above average for his size. This sequence seems emblematic of Jarace’s off-the-dribble game at this stage: good initial move and burst, loose handle turns a rim attempt into a pullup-2, but his touch from the midrange helps him get the bucket to go anyway.

Walker’s combination of frame and flexibility make for a strong driving game. He’s good at getting low off the bounce, and his moves are more deceiving because of this flexibility; he doesn’t telegraph his intentions as a handler, unlike some other bulkier forwards. While his handle isn’t reliable at this stage, the bar is low for an athlete as explosive and coordinated as Jarace — he just needs to get to a point where his ball control is functional enough to keep up with his change of direction skills.

Although his broad shoulders are useful in stopping defenders from getting back into the play once Jarace gets a step, he doesn’t leverage his strength as much as you’d like for a 240 lbs bowling ball, and doesn’t initiate contact frequently. Driving with more intentional force is an improvement area for him. 

Shooting Projection

The big question mark for Jarace is his outside shot, but it seems to be on an upward trajectory. He’s never been afraid of putting up 3s (3.3 3s/40 mins lifetime per Cerebro, though only at a 25.5% clip), and has maintained a free throw% in the mid-low 70s. He’s also showcased good touch from midrange, where the natural backwards lean of his mechanics synergize nicely with his fadeaway pull up 2s (though this lean would still ideally be rectified long term). At Houston, Jarace has wasted no time working on his mechanics, already reducing his lean-back and cutting down on his previously slow dip. The latter change will boost his catch-and-shoot functionality, allowing Jarace to get off 3s over tighter contests.

Conclusion

Even if a pie-in-the-sky outcome where Jarace turns into a full-fledged NBA initiator is unlikely, becoming a solid connective decision maker, closeout attacker, grab and go option, roller, and DHO operator is a middle-tier outcome that’s very much in the cards for him. Combined with his defensive playmaking and versatility, Walker seems destined for a top 10 selection as a forward/big hybrid gamble with countless different paths to NBA value.

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