Walter brings elite shooting

Organization sees selection of Baylor guard at No. 19 as a long-time play

- DOUG SMITH

Ja'Kobe Walter averaged 14.5 points per game as a freshman at Baylor and shot 34 per cent from threepoint range.

It is a gigantic jigsaw that Raptors president Masai Ujiri is putting together and he hopes another piece has now been added.

It is not the piece, to be sure, and the job is far from done but getting guard Ja’Kobe Walter of Baylor University with the 19th pick in Wednesday’s draft gives the Raptors another young shooter.

The six-foot-four Walter is known as an elite shooter and an aggressive defender, two commodities the Raptors and the NBA most covet in this era.

The native of McKinney, Texas, averaged 14.5 points per game as a freshman at Baylor and shot 34 per cent from three-point range.

Respected draft expert Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer said of Walter: “Dynamic perimeter shooter who thrives off screens and hand-offs and can use hesitations to get into pull-ups and sidesteps. With a smooth form, high elevation, and fearlessness, he has all the traits of a confident go-to scorer who can drain shots even when under pressure.”