LONNIE WALKER
BIRTHDATE: 12/14/98
POSITION: Shooting Guard
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 195 lbs
SCHOOL/ TEAM: Miami
CLASS: Freshman
STRENGTHS
NBA body - Good positional size for NBA shooting guard. 6'4" with 6'10" wingspan mixed with a strong frame
Athleticism - Explosive athlete that can make plays above the rim; Quick first step
Creativity - Shifty ball handler, changes speeds and plays with good pace.
Scoring Ability - Has the potential to be a 3 level scorer; Excels at scoring off the dribble
Transition game - Fast in the open court, very good finisher in transition either as ball handler of finishing from wing
Pick & Roll game - Capable pick & roll ball handler with efficient scoring numbers using ball screens
WEAKNESSES
Consistency - Only scored in double figures 4 times in first 11 games
Playmaking - Displays solid court vision but must improve playmaking ability as a ball handling two
Shot selection - Driving and scoring off the dribble are greatest strength, settling for too many 3's
Free throw attempts - Directly related to shot selection and averaging less than two free throw attempts per game
Energy/Effort - Does not always play with great energy. Too many low scoring and low rebounding output games
Miami freshman Lonnie Walker came into this college basketball season as a highly touted McDonald's All American one and done candidate with lottery potential. As the non conference schedule comes to a close, Walker has only shown flashes of his potential and his slow start could be directly related to tearing his meniscus in July and an ankle injury suffered in the third game of the season.
Walker has come off the bench in 11 of Miami's first 12 games and has only reached double figures in 4 of those contests. At best Walker is a streaky shooter from 3, and nearly half of his field goal attempts are from beyond the arc. Add on the fact he's only averaging 1.7 free throw attempts per game and you can't help but assume he's not 100%.
Despite his low statistical output, it doesn't take long to see Walker has all the tools to have a successful NBA career. He's a very good athlete that can make plays above the rim, score off the dribble and is a capable shooter from deep. At 19 Walker already has an NBA ready body that allows him to absorb and play through contact on drives and at the rim. Walker is a capable passer who could eventually develop into a secondary ball handler/ play maker as his game matures. The way he dribbles, changes speeds and uses his body reminds me a little of Dion Waiters. He doesn't rely on a step back as much as Waiters, but he's similar to fellow Pennsylvania guards like Kyle Lowry and Tyreke Evans with his physical punishing drives to rim. Walker has an advanced handle and is blessed with a 6'10" wingspan that allows him to finish plays at the rim over shot blockers.
One area I'd love to see Walker improve on is his consistency and effort. There were too many games in the on conference schedule where he failed to reach double figures or grab 3 rebounds. It's still early and scouts will have a better assessment of Walker's game once conference play begins.
RAFAEL BARLOWE - DECEMBER 28 , 2017