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Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament

By Harrison Brown

Keyonte George and Grady Dick are two of the big players the Orlando Magic may focus on when the NBA Draft comes into focus. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Keyonte George and Grady Dick are two of the big players the Orlando Magic may focus on when the NBA Draft comes into focus. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 05: Jarace Walker of the Houston Cougars. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 05: Jarace Walker of the Houston Cougars. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament

5. Jarace Walker, Houston

vs. Northern Kentucky, Thurs., 9:20 p.m. (TNT)

Jarace Walker is a highly skilled player for his size. Standing 6-foot-8, he is a gifted all-around player who brings extreme athleticism and effort to the court.

He is a forward who has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways, both offensively and defensively.

Walker is a surprisingly skilled scorer who has a diverse offensive game. He is able to square up big defenders and drive past them on the perimeter.

He can also use mismatches with undersized defenders through creating in the mid-post with his back to the basket. He can score as a cutter or rim runner when setting a screen.

Walker has great hands to catch the ball in space and finish at the basket. He also can back a player down and turn around into a fadeaway jump shot. His touch at 15 feet is what impresses the most.

There are skills that will translate at the next level for Walker. One of them is his ability to drive into the paint from the perimeter and finish with floaters and layups through contact.

He has a quick first step for his size but needs to tighten his handle as he loses the ball fairly often. He prefers driving with his left and extending over the top of defenders with his floater.

Walker has been shooting it well from three at 34.4 percent, but his form is in question and seems to have a hitch. This will need to be improved at the NBA level. He will need to have a consistent jump shot with a faster release.

The area in which Walker thrives is his energy. He is a disruptive defender who is consistently willing himself to high-contested steals, rebounds, and blocks.

He can switch onto guards on the perimeter and move laterally to close off driving lanes. Walker also can guard bigger players using his strength and leaping ability to contest shots around the rim.

His energy is contagious and is the engine that drives the Houston Cougar team.

Walker is a promising player who is a hard worker on and off the court and looks to be a team-first player. The question mark for Walker is what is his NBA prototype?

Is he a good enough 3-point shooter to be a stretch big? He only averages 1.5 blocks per game, but does his effort give him the ability to play the stretch five?

These remain to be seen, but he will look to showcase his 3-point shooting ability in the tournament as his Cougars secured a 1 seed and are a frontrunner to win the NCAA championship.