Jarace Walker

Jarace Walker
Walker with Houston in 2023
No. 5 – Indiana Pacers
PositionPower forward / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-09-04) September 4, 2003 (age 21)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeHouston (2022–2023)
NBA draft2023: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentIndiana Pacers
2023–2024→Indiana Mad Ants
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jarace Isaiah Walker (/ˈdʒɛərəs/ JAIR-əss;[1] born September 4, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Houston Cougars. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class.

High school career

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Walker attended Susquehannock High School in York County, Pennsylvania for his freshman year before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[2][3][4] As a senior, he averaged 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and four assists per game. He was selected to play in the 2022 McDonalds All-American Game.[5]

Recruiting

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Walker was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class, according to major recruiting services. On November 4, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for Houston over offers from Alabama and Auburn.[6][7]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jarace Walker
PF 		New Freedom, PA IMG Academy (FL) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Nov 4, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 12  247Sports: 12  ESPN: 10
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Houston 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  • "2022 Houston Cougars Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.

Professional career

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Indiana Pacers (2023—present)

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The Washington Wizards selected Walker with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and traded him to the Indiana Pacers along with two future second-round picks for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly, the seventh overall pick.[8] Walker became the highest-drafted prospect from the University of Houston since Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was taken with the first overall pick by the Houston Rockets in 1984.[9] On July 1, 2023, Walker signed his rookie contract with the Pacers alongside the 26th overall pick Ben Sheppard.[10]

Personal life

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Walker is the son of Marcia and Horace Walker. He has three older sisters: Jaden, Natichia and Sherelle. Sherelle played volleyball at UMBC and sister Jaden played basketball at Saint Joseph's.[11]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Indiana 33 0 10.3 .409 .400 .889 1.9 1.2 .5 .3 3.6
Career 33 0 10.3 .409 .400 .889 1.9 1.2 .5 .3 3.6

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024 Indiana 9 0 3.4 .300 .000 .667 .4 .4 .2 .1 .9
Career 9 0 3.4 .300 .000 .667 .4 .4 .2 .1 .9

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Houston 36 35 27.6 .465 .347 .663 6.8 1.8 1.0 1.3 11.2

References

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  1. ^ "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Superstar seventh-grader Jarace Walker facing life-changing decision". USA TODAY High School Sports. March 20, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Bodani, Frank. "Susquehannock basketball phenom Jarace Walker taking his talents out of state". York Daily Record.
  4. ^ ROSE, ROB. "York County sophomore sensation Jarace Walker impresses despite IMG Academy's loss at UMBC". York Dispatch.
  5. ^ "Houston signee Jarace Walker named McDonald's All-American".
  6. ^ "5-star forward Walker says he'll play for Houston". ESPN.com. November 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "UH lands commitment from Jarace Walker, nation's top high school power forward".
  8. ^ Wallace, Ava (June 23, 2023). "Wizards, with eye on long-term future, take French project Bilal Coulibaly". Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "NBA Draft 2023: Former UH star Jarace Walker selected #8 overall". FoxSports. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Pacers Sign Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard". HoopsRumors. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Jarace Walker - Men's Basketball". University of Houston Athletics.
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