NBA Comparison: Lonnie Walker

Strengths: 6’5 two-way athletic guard … Good length … High-level athlete with good speed and translatable run and jump ability. Excels getting downhill and in the open floor. Quick first step … Effective crossover. Changes speed well with the ball, penetrating well off the dribble, and gets into the paint at a good rate. Knows how to beat his man to draw the help defender to make the right play. Scores at the rim with either hand … Averaged 9.3 points per game on 50% FG% at the U16 Americas Championship in 2021 and 11.9 points per game on 54.5% FG% at the U17 World Cup in 2022 … Improved 3PT shooting throughout high school. Steps into his shot with rhythm off the dribble. Shot 45% 3PT% on 2.9 3PT attempts per game at the U17 World Cup in 2022 and 50% 3PT% on 2 3PT attempts per game at the U19 World Cup in 2023 … Sees the floor, making solid reads and passes with either hand. Can lead and finish in transition … Committed defender and sticks to the ball-handler well. Comes away with a solid number of steals to turn defense into offense. Averaged 1.4 steals per game at the U17 World Cup … Confident and competitive …

Weaknesses: Strong frame but will need to continue to fill out … Can work on getting to the free throw line and didn’t connect well when getting to the line. Only shot 10 free throws over his 20 games playing for Team USA (2021-23), connecting on 60% (6-10) of those attempts … While he has improved and can get to the rim in the half-court, he can be reliant on his superior athleticism and still has room to expand his offense … Can move more off the ball … Older for his class, will turn 19 in February of his senior year of high school …

Outlook: North Carolina Commit … Transferred to Our Saviour Lutheran for his senior year … Won Gold at the U16 Americas Championship in 2021 and U17 World Cup in 2022 … Played in the 2022 and 2023 UA Next Elite 24, scoring 8 points in 2022 …

Evan Tomes 11/7/23