Engaged with North Carolina last year, for his “freshman” season, Walker Kessler had decided, in the spring after the elimination of UNC in the first round of the NCAA tournament, to strike out on his own to find a situation in which he would be more empowered.
Frustrated by his minimal role with the Tar Heels (9 minutes on average in 29 games, for 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds), he then joined the university of Auburn, closer to his native Georgia. After 26 matches in this 2021/22 season, the huge pivot displays much more telling personal statistics than in North Carolina: 12 points (64% in shooting), 8.4 rebounds and… 4.7 blocks per game! As a bonus, Auburn is one of the very best teams in the nation, when UNC continues to display a terribly irregular level.
This change of air was therefore the right choice for the “sophomore”, who is having an excellent individual season and forms with the “freshman” Jabari Smith a very complementary interior duo, which propels Auburn to the top of the NCAA.
An exceptional circle protector
Still quite frustrating offensively, Walker Kessler compensates with exceptional defensive activity. With almost 5 blocks on average per game, he transcends the defensive face of his team, and in particular allows his backs to defend calmly outside, since the latter know that they can count on the giant in the second curtain.
He has also achieved two triple-doubles this season: in points, rebounds… and blocks! First on December 30 against LSU, with a game of 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks, then against Texas A&M last week, on February 12, with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocks.
He joins, in the history of the SEC conference, Shaquille O’Neal (LSU, 1992) and Roy Rogers (Alabama, 1996) in the circle of the only players to have achieved more than one triple-double during a season.
This season, he has 123 blocks to his credit: only 13 major conference teams of the NCAA first division (ACC, SEC, BIG 10, BIG 12, PAC-12) have more than him!
The Auburn pivot is therefore an elite defender, a practically impassable hoop protector. And in attack, with a shot still under construction, he is useful for his ability to receive the “lobs” on the “alley-oop”.
” It’s a rare, very rare talent.” said about it his coach Bruce Pearl. ” You throw the ball anywhere in the air, he catches it. And he ends up in the circle with a very high percentage. […] He is the best aerial player I have coached. […] He’s not afraid to put himself in his difficult positions, he climbs very high to catch the ball, he finishes at the circle and comes back down.“
Next up for Kessler should, barring any surprises, be the NBA. Still far from the account last year, he exploded his rating with franchises this season, and his name comes up regularly among the choices of the middle of the first round. For example, The Athletic places him in 18th position in the 2022 Draft, in his last “Mock Draft”.
