Kessler, Walker  Auburn  7'1" 256 C soph. 

Kessler was a factor defensively for Auburn. He averaged a whopping 4.6 blocked shots per game as a sophomore. He led the NCAA in total blocked shots with 155. He was named the National Defensive Player of the Year (by the coaches (NABC). The Tigers were 9.7 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Kessler on the floor. His standing reach is 9'5". Offensively, he rim runs well, and he will finish lobs above the rim. Although not shy about shooting threes, his percentages were poor. Kessler jacked 50 three-point attempts this season and he hit only ten (20%). Likewise, he is a bad free throw shooter at 59% in 2021-22. He had more turnovers than assists and his awareness of clock was suspect in one game I watched. ...If a team can get Kessler to simply rim-run, rebound, and block shots, he can be valuable. He ranked 4th in the entire NCAA in boxscore plus/minus. ...We expect Kessler to be drafted in the late first-round. We think his defensive ability is REAL. 

 

Our best advice: in 2017, the 15th pick was Justin Jackson. We advised, "draft John Collins."

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