Top-25 SG Ja'Kobe Walter names top 8 schools
On3 Consensus four-star shooting guard Ja’Kobe Walter tells On3 he’s narrowed his focus to eight schools — Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Texas, and UCLA.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pound sharpshooter out of McKinney (Texas) High has taken official visits to Alabama, Auburn, and most recently Texas. Next weekend, Baylor will host him for his fourth official visit. Walter is also considering an official visit to UCLA, as the Bruins conducted an in-home visit last week. Click here for Walter’s college visit tracker.
The On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – ranks Walter as the No. 21 overall prospect in the country, and the No. 1 ranked shooting guard.
Walter talks finalists
Walter recently sat down with On3’s Jamie Shaw to discuss several of the schools involved in his recruitment.
Alabama: “I learned in the practice I watched how much they value shooting the ball, and how they practice getting their shots,” Walter said of his visit to Alabama. You can see that by watching them play, but they really focus a lot on it in practice. I like shooting the ball a lot, so I can definitely see myself in that system.”
Auburn: “I learned a lot about their culture overall when I was down there. I talk with their coaches all the time. But going to the game there, the culture of the entire campus is great. They really focused on basketball there, the gym was packed, the crowd was loud – I like a big crowd. They tell me they can build a team around me, kind of like what they did this year with Jabari Smith; put me in their system and go to work.”
Texas: “I talk with Coach (Chris) Beard a lot. In speaking with him, he always tells me he thinks I am the number one player in Texas right now and that I am their number one priority. They have been to my school the most to come to see me, and that just shows me they really want me.”
The Longhorns offered Walter’s McKinney High teammate last week. Forward Alex Anamekwe was released from his letter of intent with SMU April 18.
Baylor: “They were my first offer. I have a really good relationship with coach (Scott) Drew and coach (Alvin) Brooks and all of them. I have been there plenty of times, and I like their culture. Their guard play and how they have been producing guards have really stood out. I want to go somewhere that will get me league-ready, and I think they could do that.”
“Coach (Alvin) Brooks, that’s my guy,” Walter recently said to On3’s Gerry Hamilton. “I talk to him a lot. Probably one of the two coaches I talk to the most. He always keeps it real. He helps me out after games. I still think highly of Baylor. I went to a game this year against Villanova. Coach (Scott) Drew says I’m a top priority guy. He loves how I play both ways, and thinks I can go there and improve mentally and physically.”
Kansas: “It’s Kansas. Everyone knows about Kansas. You see what they just did, winning the national championship. They are doing something right over there, working hard and developing their guys.”
Walter also discussed a commitment timeline, and what he’s looking for at the next level.
“I’ll be looking to commit at the end of the summer. I’ll be looking for a program that will get me league-ready. I want to go to a place that feels like a home away from home. I will be away from my family, so my relationship with the coaches and players will mean a lot.”
Baylor leading RPM
In late March, On3’s senior national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton made a prediction for Walter in favor of Baylor.
According to On3’s Recruiting Prediciton Machine (RPM), the Bears have an 85.6% chance of landing Walter.
Hamilton recently wrote: “Baylor and Texas are locked in an intense battle for (Walter). Baylor has been quietly considered the favorite entering the live period with Texas, Auburn, UCLA, Kansas, and Alabama in hot pursuit.”
On3’s engineering group teamed with spiny.ai to create RPM, the industry’s first algorithm and machine learning-based product to predict where athletes will attend college. It factors in machine learning, expert predictions, social sentiment, visits, and historical trends. However, expert predictions are still a big piece of the RPM equation.
Scouting Report
“Ja’Kobe Walter has a great frame with good length. His calling card is his jump shot, and rightfully so, it is pure with a high and consistent release and outstanding balance. Walter plays well off two dribbles and is a confident pull-up jump shooter in the mid-range. Walter plays at his own pace, never rushed. Playing with consistency and urgency will be things with him moving forward. Walter is instinctive in the passing lanes.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst
“I am a two-way player, a shooter for sure, Walter told On3. “But I am really a scorer. I’m becoming a more consistent and comfortable guard. I get to my spots and handle the ball under pressure. I watch a lot of Kawhi Leonard and how he is a two-way wing, also a lot of Kevin Durant. I’m not saying I am like him, but his hesitation game and how he goes and gets buckets.”
Walter averaged 24.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 assists per game as a junior. That included connecting on 40 percent of shots from three, and 85 percent of his attempts from the free throw line. He led McKinney to the 6A State Championship game and a record of 35-6. He was recently named a MaxPreps Second-Team All-American.