Baylor Guard Ja’Kobe Walter Remains Safe Option in 2024 NBA Draft

Ja’Kobe Walter’s productive, high-floor skillset makes him a safe draft option in the volatile 2024 NBA Draft.

To this point, the 2024 NBA Draft class still has yet to see a select few players emerge as the outright top picks.

Sifting through the talent without glaring stats or a consistent eye test is going to make for a hairy draft. Shots will be taken on players that won’t work out and projects will be erected that won’t come to fruition, perhaps more this year than many others.

And with that being the case, Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter’s stock rises with each and every game.

A 6-foot-5 shooting guard with lights-out scoring prowess from behind the arc and the ability to counter off the dribble, Walter has been one of the more productive freshman in the entire country.

Through 12 games, Walter has poured on 15.3 points on 44% shooting, hitting on 41% of his 5.5 3-pointers per game. He’s certainly of the shooting archetype, but adds plenty in the ways of defense too with 1.3 steals per game and an ever-evolving all-around game.

In a class that’s yet to announce itself, there’s something to be said for his production.

Typically, a player of Walter’s caliber would hover around the top ten or late lotto. Just last season, we saw former five-star Gradey Dick averaged 14.1 points per game while shooting 40% from three-point land, and he was selected at No. 13 by Toronto.

In the 2024 class, though, Walter might be a top-five-ish pick off production that others simply have yet to replicate.

While coming away with a non-flashy shooting guard in the top-five might be seen as a wasted shot to some teams, others will certainly value Walter’s high-floor, consistency and productive year with the Bears.

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