Scout-Takes: Jordan Walsh | The Weekend Warrior

Stephen Gillaspie collects the thoughts and opinions from anonymous scouts on some of the more popular prospects from this season's draft class. PLUS: Gillaspie's Top 100

Mar 26, 2023

Scout-Takes: Jordan Walsh

Welcome back to Scout-Takes! After receiving some great reviews, this series is going to continue. As previously stated, the goal of this piece is to gauge the temperature of some of the most popular and/or polarizing players within this year’s draft class. This is accomplished by soliciting the thoughts, opinions, and intel from some of the best and brightest minds within the draft community on one player. These minds are going to be listed as “anonymous scouts,” but they are all from different forms of media, outlets, organizations, etc. What was not shared from the debuted piece centered around Jalen Hood-Schifino, is that these scouts are from places outside of the No Ceilings collective in an attempt to see how “the consensus” is feeling—not just us. The questions have been asked; the takes have been aggregated. Without further ado, let’s get into today’s featured prospect!

Expectations

Arkansas had a monster of a recruiting class, on top of having a few notable transfers come to Fayetteville this season. Nick Smith Jr. was thought to be the crown jewel, being ranked 3rd according to RSCI. Adding more depth to the backcourt for the Hawgs was Anthony Black, who tied at 14 with Julian Phillips. Only a few spots down in the same class was the 6’7”, 205-pound wing prospect, Jordan Walsh. The five-star recruit played for Link Academy, with players like the aforementioned Phillips, Felix Okpara, and Tarris Reed Jr. That output in high school and AAU ranks had universities like Arizona State, TCU, Texas, and Kansas vying to garner his services. Instead, Walsh opted to play for one of the ultimate player-empowerment coaches in college hoops: Eric Musselman. Scouts were high on the young man from Texas, especially on a star-studded roster.

“I saw more of Walsh than Smith or Black coming into the season, and was very high on him. I saw him as a guy that would have a skill set that is coveted by NBA teams. I believed he would be around the 20th pick before the year began.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

That was not a crazy take coming into the season. As many are aware, Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings aggregates the $DRFT rankings from many of the most prominent draft outlets on a monthly basis. According to his Initial Player Offerings, the consensus ranked Jordan as the 20th prospect, ahead of players like Marcus Sasser, Gradey Dick, Jett Howard, Jordan Hawkins, and Jalen Hood-Schifino.

“I thought Walsh was an intriguing player coming into Arkansas, but I am always cautious with players who find success on the offense end at lower levels mainly in transition, at the rim, and with hustle plays, because they generally come across struggles on the offensive end as they move up. That being said, the roster construction was not ideal for Walsh to try to expand his game or showcase other skills, and Anthony Black’s early season success made it even more unlikely that Walsh would get more of an opportunity.”
Anonymous Scout #2

The take here illustrates why Walsh was favored in the second half of the first round. Despite having clear tools on one side of the ball, the perceived lack of versatility in his game was enough to give some scouts some pause.

“I was really excited about Jordan coming into the year. He had been on my radar for a while, watching him at AAU and Link [Academy]. I viewed him as a possible riser in the class, but kind of undersold the fact that he and AB were going to overlap a ton and what Arkansas’ spacing would be.”
- Anonymous Scout #3

While scouts and fans alike had a decent amount of excitement to see what Walsh could do at Arkansas, Jordan would get a dose of scrutiny fairly early in the season.

January Stock Hit

Arkansas looked to be a promising environment for Walsh to thrive in, but they went through a bit of adversity. Trevon Brazile suffered a season-ending injury in early December. Nick Smith Jr. started the season off with injury concerns, and played sparingly at the beginning of Arkansas’ season. Ricky Council IV, a transfer from Wichita State, would emerge as the de facto scoring leader on this team, while Anthony Black would be looked at as the initiator.

With a lack of floor spacing, the already offensively-limited Walsh would see his stock take a precipitous fall. In what appeared to be a unanimous decision, the draft outlets of the world seemingly got together and declared that Jordan would be the 42nd-ranked prospect by early January. Why would scouts that loved him coming into the season during the preseason shift their opinions on him so soon?

“I don’t know if his stock would have been helped or hurt by playing with more talented players, like Smith or Brazile, because Walsh would would have shot even fewer shots, and that makes confidence drop. However, I do think he’s a 3-and-D, away from the ball contributor, that will make his money as a fifth starter—or a reserve that does the dirty work.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

While some scouts may look at the construction of Arkansas, there may have been some that felt his own play may have had something to it.

“I think it [the injuries] certainly plays a part but, to be fair as well, Jordan was just not playing good basketball. The defensive ability and versatility has shown through all season, but the offense bordered on unplayable much of the season. The roster played a part but, in reality, there was not a bankable skill for Jordan in halfcourt offense.”
- Anonymous Scout #3

“Personally, I don’t think his stock has dropped from the injuries they’ve dealt with because his struggles showed from the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, he’s quite limited on the offensive end and, while it isn’t the only reason for Arkansas’ poor spacing, it’s a factor, and he makes it easy for defenses to help off of him when he isn’t a shooting threat and will pass up good looks.”
- Anonymous Scout #2

Elite Skill Translating

While there have been some offensive questions surrounding Jordan throughout the year, he has consistently been a dogged defender. At 6’7” and 205 pounds, Walsh has the frame and length to grow into a nasty NBA defender. He’s been asked to neutralize some of the best players that college hoops has to offer and does it with relative ease. The task to come into the NBA and be a plus defender is a tall order for any rookie, but do scouts think Jordan has the ability to do it?

“His defense should be able to translate pretty early on at the next level if given the opportunity. His physicality and length are two things that should benefit him. He can sometimes get caught being too heavy on his feet, and can also find himself in foul trouble—so cleaning up his technique will be important, but he definitely has the potential to have an impact as a rookie defender more so than others.”
- Anonymous Scout #2

“I think he could certainly be an outlier, but I genuinely worry quite a bit about how willing a coach will be to put Walsh on the court given the offense right now. However, he has (and always has) had good moments of defensive takeover, when like a gold 2K lockdown badge comes on. Can he unlock that more consistency? I want to see more of that. That player gets NBA reps.”
- Anonymous Scout #3

“Walsh is known s a defender, and he works very hard on that end. But he lacks top-end speed, so defending NBA guards may be a trouble. I do think that he can guard size better, as opposed to how he slides against speed.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

The Biggest Concern

As alluded to earlier, Jordan’s biggest swing skill is shooting. On the season, Walsh shot 28.6% from distance on two attempts per game. For those that look at free-throw percentages as an indication of touch, there is a glimmer of hope that he could convert on catch-and-shoot opportunities. Walsh has shot over 72% from the stripe, shooting just under two free throws per game. Although that number isn’t stunning, his form and efficiency aren’t broken. But, for every player that has grown as a shooter through hard work and dedication, there are prospects that simply never develop into a reliable outside threat. Scouts have varying opinions on whether or not Walsh can contribute from three-point range.

“I have yet to see too many positive indicators of touch, or flashes of being a good NBA shooter. But he does appear to have the work ethic to figure it out, which makes it less of an immediate concern.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

“I don’t feel like there’s really an indicator of touch outside of his feel for the game and what he brings as a passer. I am somewhat optimistic about jumper growth; where it will get to is the big question. It looks a lot better mechanically than it did about a year and a half ago. My biggest thing is just that I want him to take more. He really never uncorked this year and that may be a byproduct of coaching, but I would be skeptical to say that. Walsh has never been a high volume shooter and has always had some hesitancy in taking open threes, which continued this year.
- Anonymous Scout #3

“It is very likely that it [the shot] will be a work in progress, and whichever team drafts him will need to be patient with that. In addition to the numbers being poor from 3, his touch around the rim this year hasn’t been great, and he also hesitates when he has space to shoot as well. If a team is drafting him in hopes of him being even a neutral on the offensive end as a rookie, they are setting themselves up for disappointment—and that’s not fair to Walsh.”
- Anonymous Scout #2

What Comes Next?

There is a lot of speculation as to what Jordan Walsh could do between now and the draft. Walsh, once projected to be a sure-fire first round prospect, has now waded into some murky waters. The discourse around this upcoming draft class is that it could be one for the ages, with there being a few franchise-altering prospects and enough depth for some teams outside of the lottery to add valuable pieces. With that much praise surrounding this class, the perception of the incoming class is not at the same level as this one. Considering those factors, what is a player like Jordan Walsh to do? Should he stay? Should he get feedback, come back, and possibly get taken higher? Let’s see what scouts have to say.

“I don’t have a strong feel about him declaring or not. But, I’d lean towards him declaring and riding impressive defense in the tournament into the NBA draft.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

This scout isn’t alone that is hanging some amount of weight on how the tournament would impact his draft stock.

“A lot can change this time of year—especially with Arkansas making their postseason run—but as of a couple of weeks ago, I was saying that I would be surprised if Walsh ends up back at Arkansas next year. Whether that meant he would declare and stay in the draft, or transfer, I felt those two were more likely than him returning to Arkansas for another year. Right now, I’m not as confident in that, but we will see how the rest of the tourney plays out.”
-Anonymous Scout #2

What’s interesting is that there are more people that feel as if Walsh could return to college ball, but it may be via the transfer portal.

“He’s either entering with the idea of going in the first or transferring, in my opinion. I thought Arkansas was a questionable fit when he committed, and that doesn’t appear to be changing. It would be interesting to see if he’s one of the guys that goes from freshman to GLI [G League Ignite] track.”
- Anonymous Scout #3

NBA Outlook

After looking at the buzz coming into the season, after assessing some of the skills that Jordan has in his game, there has to be enough for us to come to some sort of conclusion—some sort of portrait painted that illustrates the type of player he can be. Results may vary.

“Right now, I’m still skeptical with Walsh as a prospect because of the offensive struggles he has but, if he’s able to improve the shooting and his confidence on the offensive end, he definitely has a chance to be an impactful rotation player on a playoff caliber team.”
- Anonymous Scout #2

“I think Jordan should remain on pro radar but, ultimately, return to a new school or find a different avenue for development if his feedback isn’t a likely first rounder. I’m really interested in him, but I think the reps he needs are not going to come at the pro level right now.
- Anonymous Scout #3

“I don’t have a player comparison but he is, to me, a guy that will defend and rebound and hit an occasional 3. He is a 5th starter to an 8th man on a playoff team.”
- Anonymous Scout #1

Gillaspie’s Top 100

Some time has passed from my last piece until now, so we’re due for an update to the Top 100! With this update, players will have (Parentheses) to indicate where they were previously ranked. For those that are being featured for the first time, they will have (N/R) next to their name. For those of you that are NBA fans that are looking for players that could be taken by your team in the First Round, Second Round, or signed as undrafted free agents, may this ranking serve you well. As the season progresses, this list will continue to be updated. Let’s take a look at who’s where!

(1) Victor Wembanyama | 7’2” | 229 lbs. | Forward | Metropolitans 92
(2) Scoot Henderson | 6’2” | 195 lbs. | Guard | Ignite
(3) Brandon Miller | 6’9” | 200 lbs. | Forward | Alabama
(4) Jarace Walker | 6’8” | 240 lbs. | Forward | Houston
(5) Cam Whitmore | 6’7” | 232 lbs. | Forward | Villanova
(6) Ausar Thompson | 6’7” | 207 lbs. | Wing | OTE City Reapers
(8)Amen Thompson | 6’7” | 202 lbs. | Guard | OTE City Reapers
(9) Jalen Hood-Schifino | 6’6” | 213 lbs. | Guard | Indiana
(13) Anthony Black | 6’7” | 198 lbs. | Perimeter | Arkansas
(11) Taylor Hendricks | 6’9” | 210 lbs. | Forward | UCF
(7) Keyonte George | 6’4” | 185 lbs. | Guard | Baylor
(12) Cason Wallace | 6’4” | 193 lbs. | Guard | Kentucky
(10) Gradey Dick | 6’8” | 205 lbs. | Wing | Kansas
(14) Jett Howard | 6’8” | 215 lbs. | Wing | Michigan
(16) Brice Sensabaugh | 6’6” | 235 lbs. | Wing | Ohio State
(17) Gregory “GG” Jackson | 6’9” | 215 lbs. | Forward | South Carolina
(19) Max Lewis | 6’7” | 195 lbs. | Wing | Pepperdine
(20) Rayan Rupert | 6’6” | 192 lbs. | Wing | New Zealand Breakers
(23) Dariq Whitehead | 6’7” | 220 lbs. | Wing | Duke
(21) Jordan Hawkins | 6’5” | 195 lbs. | Wing | Connecticut
(22) Colby Jones | 6’6” | 205 lbs. | Wing | Xavier
(26) Kobe Bufkin | 6’4” | 195 lbs. | Guard | Michigan
(15) Nick Smith Jr. | 6’5” | 185 lbs. | Guard | Arkansas
(24) Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6’9” | 245 lbs. | Big | Indiana
(25) Adem Bona | 6’10” | 235 lbs. | Big | UCLA
(35) Dereck Lively II | 7’1” | 230 lbs. | Big | Duke
(28) Marcus Sasser | 6’2” | 195 lbs. | Guard | Houston
(18) Kris Murray | 6’8” | 220 lbs. | Forward | Iowa
(30) Sidy Cissoko | 6’8” | 200 lbs. | Forward | Ignite
(27) Noah Clowney | 6’10” | 210 lbs. | Big | Alabama
(29) Julian Phillips | 6’8” | 198 lbs. | Forward | Tennessee
(32) Terquavion Smith | 6’4” | 165 lbs. | Guard | NC State
(31) DaRon Holmes II | 6’10” | 220 lbs. | Big | Dayton
(34) Jalen Wilson | 6’8” | 225 lbs. | Forward | Kansas
(36) Mike Miles Jr. | 6’2” | 195 lbs | Guard | TCU
(40) Leonard Miller | 6’10” | 211 lbs. | Forward | Ignite
(37) Brandin Podziemski | 6’5” | 205 lbs. | Guard | Santa Clara
(38) Julian Strawther | 6’7” | 205 lbs. | Wing | Gonzaga
(39) Kyle Filipowski | 7’ | 230 lbs. | Big | Duke
(41) Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 6’7” | 225 lbs. | Forward | UCLA
(50) James Nnaji | 6’11” | 250 lbs. | Big | Barcelona
(51) Bilal Coulibaly | 6’6” | 200 lbs. | Wing | Metropolitans 92
(69) Riley Kugel | 6’5” | 207 lbs. | Wing | Florida
(42) Tucker DeVries | 6’7” | 210 lbs. | Wing | Drake
(57) Kevin McCullar | 6’6” | 210 lbs. | Wing | Kansas
(58) Jordan Walsh | 6’7” | 205 lbs. | Wing | Arkansas
(44) Nikola Durisic | 6’8” | 214 lbs. | Wing | Mega
(45) Reece Beekman | 6’3” | 190 lbs. | Guard | Virginia
(33) Azuolas Tubelis | 6’11” | 245 lbs. | Big | Arizona
(43) Ricky Council IV | 6’6” | 205 lbs. | Wing | Arkansas
(46) Andre Jackson Jr. | 6’6” | 210 lbs. | Wing | Connecticut
(48) Arthur Kaluma | 6’7” | 225 lbs. | Forward | Creighton
(49) Donovan Clingan | 7’2” | 265 lbs. | Big | Connecticut
(52) Tyrese Proctor | 6’5” | 175 lbs. | Guard | Duke
(53) Trevon Brazile | 6’10” | 212 lbs. | Big | Arkansas
(54) Mark Mitchell | 6’8” | 220 lbs. | Forward | Duke
(61) Amari Bailey | 6’5” | 185 lbs. | Guard | UCLA
(64) Jalen Slawson | 6’7” | 215 lbs. | Forward | Furman
(55) Bobi Klintman | 6’10” | 225 lbs. | Forward | Wake Forest
(59) Nae’Qwan Tomlin | 6’10” | 210 lbs. | Forward | Kansas State
(56) Isaiah Wong | 6’4” | 184 lbs. | Guard | Miami
(65) Jaylen Forbes | 6’5” | 192 lbs. | Wing | Tulane
(60) Oso Ighodaro | 6’9” | 215 lbs. | Big | Marquette
(47) Jaylen Clark | 6’5” | 205 lbs. | Wing | UCLA
(62) Zach Edey | 7’4” | 305 lbs. | Big | Purdue
(63) Kel’el Ware | 7’ | 210 lbs. | Big | Oregon
(66) Emoni Bates | 6’9” | 190 lbs. | Wing | Eastern Michigan
(75) D’Moi Hodge | 6’4” | 188 lbs. | Guard | Missouri
(67) Olivier-Maxence Prosper | 6’8” | 230 lbs. | Forward | Marquette
(68) Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7’1” | 260 lbs. | Big | Creighton
(70) Adam Flagler | 6’3” | 185 lbs. | Guard | Baylor
(80) Trey Alexander | 6’4” | 190 lbs. | Guard | Creighton
(72) Tyler Burton | 6’7” | 215 lbs. | Forward | Richmond
(73) Jordan Miller | 6’7” | 195 lbs. | Forward | Miami
(76) Judah Mintz | 6’3” | 172 lbs. | Guard | Syracuse
(71) Keyontae Johnson | 6’6” | 230 lbs. | Forward | Kansas State
(78) Kobe Brown | 6’8” | 250 lbs. | Forward | Missouri
(77) Kobe Johnson | 6’6” | 200 lbs. | Wing | USC
(74) Terrence Shannon Jr. | 6’6” | 225 lbs. | Wing | Illinois
(89) Paulius Murauskas | 6’8” | 220 lbs. | Forward | Lietkabelis
(79) Dillon Mitchell | 6’8” | 205 lbs. | Forward | Texas
(81) Keshon Gilbert | 6’4” | 190 lbs. | Guard | UNLV
(85) Coleman Hawkins | 6’10” | 225 lbs. | Forward | Illinois
(82) Eric Gaines | 6’2” | 165 lbs. | Guard | UAB
(96) KJ Adams Jr. | 6’7” | 225 lbs. | Big | Kansas
(99) Ben Sheppard | 6’6” | 190 lbs. | Wing | Belmont
(90) Jalen Pickett | 6’4” | 209 lbs. | Wing | Penn State
(83) Javian McCollum | 6’2” | 155 lbs. | Guard | Siena
(84) Jacob Toppin | 6’9” | 205 lbs. | Forward | Kentucky
(N/R) Seth Lundy | 6’6 | 220 lbs. | Wing | Penn State
(87) Oumar Ballo | 7’ | 260 lbs. | Big | Arizona
(91) Baba Miller | 6’11” | 204 lbs. | Forward | Florida State
(92) Tyrese Hunter | 6’ | 175 lbs. | Guard | Texas
(93) Josiah-Jordan James | 6’6” | 224 lbs. | Forward | Tennessee
(94) Mojave King | 6’5” | 195 lbs. | Wing | Ignite
(97) Drew Peterson | 6’9” | 205 lbs. | Wing | USC
(95) Bryce Hopkins | 6’7” | 220 lbs. | Forward | Providence
(N/R) Omari Moore | 6’6 | 195 lbs. | Wing | San Jose State
(98) Terrance Arceneaux | 6’5” | 190 lbs. | Wing | Houston
(N/R) Olivier Nkamhoua | 6’9 | 236 lbs. | Big | Tennessee