NBA Draft Profiles: Kemba Walker, UConn

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Stats: 23.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg, 2.3 t/o's, 33.0% 3PT

Age: 21, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'1", 185 lb
• Official: 5'11.5" (no shoes), 6'1" (with shoes), 6'3.5" (wingspan), 8'10.5" (reach), 247 lb

Strengths: Kemba's biggest strength is his athleticism. Simply put, he is impossible to stay in front of. He is lightening quick with the ball in his hands, capable of changing direction instantly even when running at full speed. It also helps that he has the handle you'd expect from a New York City point guard. That quickness, combined with his vertical explosiveness and body control, make him terrific at finishing around the rim despite his diminutive stature. Walker is capable of hanging in the air and contorting his body at awkward angles in order to finish layups amongst the trees. Walker started out the season on fire with his jumper, but he came back to earth as defenses began to key on him more. Still, his stroke looks much improved and when he has time, he's consistent. He likely won't be asked to shoulder as much of a load at the next level as he did at UConn throughout much of the season. Perhaps Walker's biggest strength as a player is his leadership ability. He put that UConn team on his back for much of the season, keeping them in the mix as his young teammates slowly learned from him how to be a winner. He's a charismatic kid that should be a terrific locker room leader down the road.

Weaknesses: The most obvious weakness when it comes to Kemba is his size. While he measured out bigger than expected at 6'1" in shoes, his size is obviously a detriment to him defensively. Its not that Kemba isn't a terrific defender -- he is -- its that bigger, stronger guards like Deron Williams and Derrick Rose will be able to dominate him. That's an issue that could end up keeping him from being a starter. The other concern with Walker is whether or not he is truly a point guard. He averaged 23.5 ppg as a junior, taking more than 18 shots per game. He appeared at times to be more of a natural shooting guard than point guard, although he did also average 4.5 apg and just 2.3 t/o's.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Brandon Jennings or Aaron Brooks pre-injury. Smaller point guards that are able to score in bunches while dominating the ball are a trend in the NBA right now. Its more than just the two I listed here. The NBA likes players than can create shots, and that is exactly what Kemba's strength is.


• Worst Case Scenario: Louis Williams. Williams was a big time prospect coming out of high school, but he has yet to fulfill his potential in the League. A double figure scorer, his role is more as a back-up point guard and spark plug than as a consistent starter.

Outlook: Kemba Walker was expected to be one of the best point guards in the country coming into the season, but I don't think anyone expected what Walker gave us. He followed up a 42 point performance against Vermont with one of the great Maui Invitationals we have ever seen before leading UConn to Big East and NCAA Tournament titles. The numbers were impressive, but some of the performances weren't. During the middle of the year, Kemba struggled with his shot selection and his ability to trust his teammates. He had a group of youngsters around him, and early in the season everything that the Huskies did went through him. Late in the year, right before the Big East Tournament began, Walker's play started to change. He started to trust his teammates more, allowing them to get their shots while picking his spots to make the big play. As they developed into consistent threats, Walker was able to run the Huskies as more of a point guard than a big time scorer. That is the role he is going to have to play at the next level, and his ability to orchestrate that much postseason success out of a roster that wasn't expected to finish in the top half of the Big East is one of the biggest reasons that his future appears bright.

Draft Range: Top Five to Seven

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Walker may be small in stature, but he has a HUGE heart. He has taken UConn on his back this season and has become one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball. He has great quickness, speed in the open court and has really improved his jump shot this season."


• Draft Express: "He is at times criticized for questionable shot selection and a penchant for playing out of control, but Walker's turnover rate is down substantially this year. This is a very good sign, especially considering the huge role he's forced to shoulder offensively. We've seen a handful of possessions this season that reminded us of Walker's old ways, but nothing that should make NBA decision makers overly concerned. This is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses, as opposing coaches will surely be throwing everything in their arsenal at Walker in an attempt to slow him down."


• Swish Scout: "Exciting scoring guard with an NBA skill set when it comes to shooting, passing, dribbling, and picking up steals. Although an undersized combo guard at 6’1” who occasionally forces things, Walker’s an outstanding gamer and clutch performer who can play a gear above everyone else and knows how to win."

Highlights: