Are Duke and Georgia the leading contenders for class of 2020prospect Walker Kessler? Here are the eight NCAA Basketball teams vying for his services.
Five-star big man Walker Kessler has been busy lately. The 6’11” high school junior just completed an in-home visit with Michigan’s coaching staff on April 30, which came a day after receiving a visit from Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and his charges, per Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers.com.
Kessler is a highly touted versatile prospect who is very mobile and possesses an impressive skill set, particularly in the post. He has outstanding hands and can score with either one around the rim as he owns a deft touch. Kessler plays hard and is also an outstanding rebounder.
While he has a lot of strengths, Kessler is far from being a finished product. He needs to increase his range and put on weight and strength on his 235-pound frame.
The Fairburn (Ga.) native is a consensus top-20 national prospect. He is ranked 18th in the class by Rivals, 17th by 247Sports Composite, and 15th by ESPN. Meanwhile, 247Sports has him as the 13th best prospect in the country for the class of 2020.
Kessler had an outstanding prep campaign in 2018-19. The MaxPreps Boys Basketball Junior All-American honorable mention selection compiled 21.0 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.4 blocks per game while leading Woodward Academy (22-9) to the Georgia state semifinals. He shot 57% from the floor, 33% (30-91) and 69% from the free throw line. Kessler also registered 19 double-doubles and five triple-doubles.
He owns 23 scholarship offers total with all of those being from power-7 schools. Kessler has family ties to Georgia with his father (Chad), uncle (Alec) and brother (Houston) all suiting up for the Bulldogs, according to USA Today. However, he seems to be open to other schools and has said that, along with Georgia, Duke, Virginia, UNC, Auburn, and Michigan have been the most vigorous in his recruitment. Tennessee and Vanderbilt also appear to be in the mix.
Kessler has already taken official visits to Duke, Virginia, Michigan, and Vanderbilt. But since he has decided to not to re-classify to the class of 2019, Kessler will be able to take five more official visits once he officially becomes a senior.
Schools pursuing Walker Kessler
Auburn
The Tigers will be rebuilding this upcoming season after losing four seniors to graduation as well as junior guard Jared Harper and sophomore forward Chuma Ekeke, both of whom left early for the NBA draft. At least the Tigers will get soon-to-be seniors Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore back to anchor the frontcourt. Auburn also has signed four-star power forward Jaylin Williams and three-star center Babatunde Akingbola as part of their five-man 2019 recruiting class.
Duke
The Blue Devils will be in desperate need of adding a big man in next year’s recruiting class as Javin DeLaurier, Justin Robinson and combo forward Jack White will have used up all of their eligibility after the upcoming campaign. It is also possible that Marques Bolden leaves the program to turn pro or as a graduate transfer. Plus, 2019 top-rated signees Vernon Carey and Matthew Hurt are conceivably one and done prospects.
DeLaurier and Bolden have entered their names in the 2019 draft, but both players are expected to return to school.
Kessler is not the only big that the Blue Devils are pursuing in the class of 202O as they also have offered 6’8” forward Scottie Barnes ( West Palm Beach, FL.) and 6’11” Mark Williams (Norfolk, VA.). Both are four-star recruits.
Georgia
The Bulldogs still have to finish up their 2019 recruiting class as they have three open spots. Georgia really doesn’t need to add a big man, however, it would be beneficial if the Dawgs did. As 6’11” sophomore Nicolas Claxton, 6’8″ sophomore Rayshaun Hammonds, and 6’9″ freshman Amanze Ngumezi is the team’s only returning bigs from a year ago. Claxton and Hammonds along with highly acclaimed 2019 recruit Anthony Edwards will be the Bulldogs best players this coming season. Ngumezi showed promise in limited action last season.
Michigan
The Wolverines could have some major issues in the frontcourt following the upcoming season as center Jon Teske will depart. That is unless redshirt sophomores — Austin Davis and Jaron Faulds — or freshmen — Brandon Johns Jr. and Colin Castleton — develop. Versatile sophomore forward Isaiah Livers will likely also be on the roster in 2020-21, so that would be a plus.
Other four finalists for Kessler
North Carolina
The Tar Heels aren’t desperate to find a big man as they did sign five-star 2019 recruit Armando Bacot this past year and have received a verbal commitment from 2020 four-star prospect Day Ron Sharpe (Winterville, NC). In addition, Garrison Brooks — who showed marked improvement in year two — 6’11” Sterling Manley and 6’10” Brandon Huffman will be seniors in 2020. Manley and Huffman have seen sparse minutes throughout their first two seasons, although Manley averaged 10 minutes a game in 37 appearances as a freshman.
Tennessee
The Volunteers could be hurting upfront this year, particularly if star big man Grant Williams remains in the NBA draft. While the Vols have four other big men, none have really done anything in their college career to this point. 6’9″ D.J. Burns and 6’11” Zach Kent, 6’9″ power forward John Fulkerson, as well as 6’8″ sophomore Derrick Walker Jr., were three-star prospects coming out of high school. Burns and Kent sat out this past season. Tennessee has also signed 6’9″ 2019 two-star prospect Drew Pember.
The Vols are looking at several other 2020 big men, including four-star recruits Greg Brown III (Austin, TX) and Dain Danija (Brooklyn Park, MN).
Vanderbilt
The Commodores still have four roster spots to fill for the 2019-20 season and they should be looking for some frontcourt depth. Currently, Vandy has open offers to three-star Kenyon Martin Jr. (West Hills, CA) and two-star David Skogman (Waukesha, WI). Clevon Brown, Matthew Moyer, and Ejike “Simon” Obinna are the only bigs on the roster at this point. Brown will not have any eligibility left following next season.
Virginia
The Cavaliers will be almost as desperate for a big man as the Blue Devils, especially if 7’1″ redshirt sophomore Jay Huff doesn’t take his game to another level next season. The good news is that 6’10” 2019 four-star recruit Kadin Shedrick and 7’0 redshirt freshman Francisco Caffarro, who is a product of NBA Global Academy, will have a year of college experience under their belt.
Virginia is also looking at Williams and 7’1″ four-star prospect Hunter Dickinson (Alexandria, Va.) from the class of 2020.