NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Projecting where 5-star Walker Kessler will end up

Five-star NCAA Basketball center prospect Walker Kessler has narrowed his recruiting scope yet again and is now down to five schools.

Walker Kessler has been one of the most sought after big men in the class of 2020 and he may be inching closer to a decision. Kessler slashed his list once again this weekend is now down to five schools which include Duke, Michigan, Gonzaga, Auburn, and UNC, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports. Georgia surprisingly did not make the Fairburn (GA) natives list.

Auburn and Michigan were on hand to watch the 7-0 big man have a nice game on the second day of the Georgia high school live event. Although he was competing against inferior competition, according to Daniels, Kessler was both efficient and dominant during his time on the floor. He showed an extremely well rounded offensive repertoire, scoring in the post as well from the perimeter where he knocked down all four of his 3-point attempts. Kessler also was an effective rim protector and rebounder in the game.

Kessler has already taken official visits to Auburn, Duke, and Michigan. He said that he will visit the campus’ of all five schools that are on his list this fall. However, he added that the trip to Auburn may be unofficial since he lives so close to the campus. Which means that he may take a visit to another school that isn’t in his top five.

Kessler has seen a little bump up in the rankings by 247Sports since earlier this month. The Woodward Academy product moved up two spots in the composite rankings to 15th and one notch up in 247Sports’ list to No. 12. However, he dropped one spot in both ESPN and Rivals list to No. 16 and 19, respectively.

Auburn appears to be the favorite to land Kessler’s services at this point due to the proximity to his family and friends. Plus, Kessler believes Auburn is on the rise and he digs coach Bruce Pearl. I do believe, however, Michigan and Duke are right behind the Tigers and could past them depending on the visits. Kessler seems intrigued by Juwan Howard and the Wolverines will still be in the rebuilding process next year so he could be one of the players that Howard could count on as a building block. Duke has a lot of front court depth,  so while I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blue Devils finish in the top two, it also wouldn’t be shocking if they finished third or fourth. Gonzaga is probably fourth and it would likely take something huge for the Bulldogs to finish in the top two. UNC joined the recruitment a little late, but the Tar Heels have made it this far, so you never know.

Kessler is expected to make a decision before his final high school season begins.

Other Recruiting tidbits

• 2022 prospect Dylan Andrews (Los Angeles, CA) picked up a scholarship offer from Utah on June 24. The Utes are the first program from a high major school to offer the  6-0 point guard. He recently received his first offers a few days ago from UC Irvine and Northern Arizona.
• Four-star small forward Jalen Bridges (Fairmont, WV) received an offer from Indiana on June 24, it was his first scholarship offer since early in June. He holds a plethora of offers with 10 coming from power seven conferences. West Virginia is considered the overwhelming favorite to land Bridges, although Pitt and Xavier are also seen to have a strong chance. The 6-7, 180-pounder is ranked 79th in the nation by 247Sports and No. 81 by 247Sports Composite while Rivals has him slated at No. 92.
• 2020 four-star power forward Dain Dainja committed to Baylor on June 23.
• St. Peter’s College offered 2021 Xaverian High School  6-0 guard Nick Folk a scholarship on June 25.
• 2020 forward Sam Richardson Jr. (Hancock, MO) received his first D-I scholarship offer from South East Missouri State on June 25.
• 2020 forward Nicholas McMullen (Greensboro, NC) has received two offers on June 25 from Radford and VCU. He now holds 10 offers with Murray State and Grambling State showing the most interest.

• 2021 6-3 guard Daeshon Shepard (Norristown, PA) received an offer from St. Bonaventure on June 25. It is the 10th offer that he has received. Temple was the first program to offer Shepard a scholarship.
• 2020 shooting guard Jared Cross (Leesburg, VA) received offers from East Tennessee State and Army on June 25. They are the only Division I offers that he currently possesses.
• 2020 5-10 point guard Kaden Metheny (Morgantown, WV) nabbed an offer from Penn on June 25. It is the first offer that he has received since December and sixth overall.