This may be a strange question, but how does Jarace Walker compare to Grant Williams?
I see J Walker measured in at 6-6 and a half inch. So close to Grant Williams size. Both physical muscular defenders. I have read that J Walker does not have high level lateral quickness. That is what got me thinking of Grant.
Their NCAA stats show some similarities from Grant's freshman year to J Walker's freshman year. Both around 12ppg 6rpg. Both around 1spg (1.0 Jarace to 0.8 Grant). Walker 1.5bpg Grant 1.9bpg. Walker has better AST:TO at 1.8:1.5 compared to Grant's 1.1:1.9 AST:TO.
Grant shot a better FG% (50% to 46%), a better 3PT% at 37.5% to 34.6% but on lower volume at 1 attempt per game vs 2.8 for J Walker. Grant got the FT line much more often with 5.9 FTAs per game vs only 2.2 FTA for J Walker. That is a shockingly low number for a physical NBA big forward. 2.2 FTAs in college? That is low. Both guys shot 66% FT%.
There is a difference in strength of schedule. I do not use this number so I do not know whether high or low is better but there is a big difference. J Walker 4.79 vs Grant 10.18. Does this mean Grant played a tougher schedule or J Walker played a tougher schedule?
Edit: Grant Williams measured 6 foot 5 and three quarters without shoes. So he is 3/4ers of an inch shorter than Jarace Walker. Similar height slightly smaller. Big difference in wingspan. You said Jarace Walker was 7-2. Grant was only 6-9 and three quarters. So 4 inches extra in length. Big difference.
Interestingly though they both have the same standing reach at 8 foot 8 and a half inches despite the large difference in wingspan.
First I just want to point out you have to be careful using standing reach as a comparative measurement. I don't want to dive deep into it right now but if you look back at combine vertical leap stats and then look at the standing reaches of the top performers you will notice they are suspiciously low. Its not difficult to not fully stretch and shed a few inches of your reach thus helping the max vertical measurement.
Grant Williams standing reach 8'8.5" max vert 31", the apex of his reach jumping is 11.29'
Walkers standing reach is also 8'8.5" max vert 38", the apex of his reach jumping is 11.87'
Overall I think Walker and Grant is a good comparison and represents the role Walker will likely play in the NBA. If Grant had a 4" longer wingspan and was slightly more explosive how would be be as an NBA player? How high would that upgraded version of Grant go in the draft?
Where do you get the reach off of jumping? Do you have to add max vert and standing reach together? Or do they give you the number somewhere?
I tried looking for it on the NBA's draft measurement page and I could not find it. The old Draftexpress measurements were way better than NBA.com's pages. Easier to use.
Overall I think Walker and Grant is a good comparison and represents the role Walker will likely play in the NBA. If Grant had a 4" longer wingspan and was slightly more explosive how would be be as an NBA player? How high would that upgraded version of Grant go in the draft?
Yes. Absolutely. A more athletic Grant Williams is a good player. Grant as he is is a borderline starter. A better version of Grant is a clear starter and high end glue guy.
Another player I was thinking of was PJ Tucker. That type of stocky short forward who can play strong D despite not being an A-list athlete.
I am having trouble pinning down just how athletic Jarace Walker is. He seems like a good athlete but not a great athlete. He lacks that high end quickness & explosion. I saw him get blown by a few times in a way that reminded me of G-Will. Also troubled by that low FT rate. You see a lot of big physical NBA athletes getting FT rates in the 40-60% range. Not around 20%.
Jarace Walker looks like a guy who can handle himself well on a switches and take tough offensive players for a few minutes here and there but not full time. Not like Aaron Gordon can. Where Aaron is the stopper they use on LeBron or Jimmy Butler.
More like Jarace is the 2nd or 3rd guy to throw on those big stars when your main defensive stoppers need a breather. Sorta like how Horford and/or Tatum are usually our main defensive forwards and Grant is 3rd in line here after them.
And then on team defense, does he have enough quickness as a PF to be a highly disruptive help defender? He looks good. He will switch well. He will be able to take care of his own duties. He will provide some help. But I'm not sure he has that high end speed to cover a large area of the floor in help & recoveries. So I am thinking more of a plus defender than a great defender.