2024 NBA Draft: Ja’Kobe Walter Goes Off In College Debut

Ja’Kobe Walter is considered by most scouts the top scoring prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. How did he perform in his first ever college game?

Baylor on Tuesday night came away with a tough victory versus Auburn. The Bears were trailing for a good portion of the game but the electric scoring wing, Ja’Kobe Walter, sparked a comeback. The freshman guard had 28 points on efficient shooting as he was showcasing his elite shot-making ability, shooting prowess and finishing ability.

The sequence that really caught scouts' eyes is when he got an and-one layup, made the free-throw, picked up the ball-handler full court, forced a turnover and then splashed a three off the catch. The electric scoring wing is coming off a GEICO National Championship for Link Academy that he played a major role in as he was showcasing his electric scoring ability.

Walter had some moments where he could’ve made the better read as a playmaker as there were a couple plays he missed the open teammate or hunted his shot to the point where he forced a bad shot. Those aren’t major concerns given it’s his first ever college game, but it’s definitely something worth monitoring moving forward.

The 2024 NBA Draft doesn’t really have that electric scorer we’re accustomed to seeing from previous drafts as the last five first round picks all have high praise for their scoring prowess. You have guys like Victor Wembanyama, Paolo Banchero, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards and Zion Williamson.

This draft lacks that number one scoring option talent, but with that being said Walter’s high level scoring ability could allow him to be in consideration for a top five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft due to the lack of elite scoring talent and the potential he possesses. We still have a long way to go until draft night, but Walter looked like a surefire lottery pick on Tuesday night.

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