NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 10 finalists for five-star guard Ja’Kobe Walter
Texas A&M Aggies
There has been a ton of roster turnover for the Aggies this offseason, including losing four of their top five scorers. They did land a few key transfers, including Henry Coleman from Duke and Ethan Anderson from Arkansas. The biggest name they got was Marcus Williams, a guard that averaged over 15 ppg at Wyoming as a freshman.
Williams and returning guard Hassan Diarra will be joined by incoming top-30 guard Manny Obaseki to form a competitive backcourt in the SEC. Walter can join them and if the pieces work can get out the bottom half of the conference in due time. But there are much safer options on this list in terms of making the NCAA Tournament and the continuous roster turnover for the program may be a concern to consider.
TCU Horned Frogs
Speaking of Texas A&M, their best player from last season Emanuel Miller went to TCU this offseason, one of eight incoming transfers for the program. On the perimeter, guards Shahada Wells, Damion Baugh, and Cashius McNeilly will be part of next season’s rotation. Walter certainly can be the focal point of the roster when he arrives but it’s unknown who’ll be around or how the pieces will all fit.
Next. WTE Big 12 power rankings for 2021-22. dark
The other issue is that the Horned Frogs are coming off a season finishing 8th in league play. And there are five other options from the Big 12 alone for Walter to decide. Unless playing time and a close relationship with head coach Jamie Dixon become the deciding factors, it’s hard to see TCU in a position to land a five-star prospect at this time.