Ja’Kobe Walter was another freshman who climbed NBA draft boards this season after a solid freshman year at Baylor. He has the potential to be an impact guard or wing player for an NBA team.
Ja’Kobe Walter 2024 NBA Draft Profile
Early Career:
Walter was the eighth overall prospect in the class of 2023 and one of the headlines for Baylor basketball. Walter was known coming out of high school for his competitiveness and deep range as an off-ball guard/wing. He got off to an incredible start scoring 28 points against Auburn, breaking Baylor’s record for points in a freshman debut. Walter averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Baylor would play in the Big 12 championship game and make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In two games of March Madness, Walter played very well scoring 19 and 20 points respectively before losing to Clemson.
Strengths:
Walter’s greatest projected strength is his perimeter shooting ability. While shooting 34.1 percent from deep won’t blow you away, he did this on 6.3 attempts per game. This percentage was maintained even through a small slump towards the end of conference play. He also was able to shoot from a variety of platforms and situations beyond the arc. Walter regularly found open space along the three-point line based on the defense and his teammates’ drives. He showed good competency and footwork as a movement shooter as well coming off pin-downs and stagger screens.
Combined with this three-point potential is Walter’s physical profile which projects well on the defensive end of the floor. Walter has the ideal percentages and physical ability to become similar to a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a ‘3-and-D’ player. Walter is six-foot-five with a six-foot-ten wingspan and plays with competitiveness and edge to his game. This competitiveness and work ethic will be important to scouts wanting to know if he’ll continue to develop. It will also assure them that he’ll continue to capitalize on his upside and improve areas of concern in his game.
Weaknesses:
First things first, Walter’s major concern for teams and evaluators is answering the question of how good he actually is on defense. The physical profile and flashes say one thing, but the results were simply inconsistent. Too many times Walter could be seen giving up a straight-line drive or being out of position off-ball. For someone who only reliably projects as a ‘3-and-D’ role player, the defense being legit is a huge concern. Scouts determining if his defensive mishaps or inconsistencies are easy fixes will be a major swing factor in a team’s confidence in drafting him high in the draft.
This overall issue is highlighted further when you consider Walter’s lack of self-creation and playmaking. While he’s a good athlete with a good frame, he isn’t necessarily explosive and doesn’t possess an advanced handle. Again, since he doesn’t project to create his own shots and be a primary playmaker, it limits his ceiling significantly.
NBA Pro Comparison:
Walter is long, athletic, and can shoot the three-ball. This projected 3-and-D archetype along with a wiry frame draws pro comparisons to Caldwell-Pope and Moses Moody. Caldwell-Pope is a more proven defender while Moody was a better pure-scoring prospect, but there are shades of both their games in Walter. Walter will need to convince scouts that he will develop and become consistent in both areas to maintain high draft stock.
Projected 2024 NBA Draft Range:
Late lottery/mid-first round
