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PG C.J. Walker (Official Thread)

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nomatta said:
We could be okay if CJ stays healthy but to Buckguy's point about Luther, I would feel a lot better if we add someone eligible who can handle the ball and facilitate. CJ goes down and the backcourt is just going to be very deficient in those fundamental areas.

I honestly think Rich Kelly would be fine for that role and as a bonus he's a good shooter, at least at the MAAC level.

I love Jamarius Burton but he probably has to sit out a year. Still, that kid is going to be a stud and he would be a HUGE boost to our 2021-2022 lead guard situation, which is looking a tad dire at the moment unless Washington really becomes more of a PG.
Click to expand...

Boston College lands Quinnipiac graduate transfer Rich Kelly
https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...-eagles-mens-basketball-rich-kelly-145513684/
 
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CJ WALKER (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
What he’s done: Walker began his career at Florida State, playing 12.5 minutes per game off the bench as a freshman before entering the starting lineup to play 23.2 minutes per game as a sophomore. He then opted to transfer to Ohio State, where he sat out the 2018-19 season. Last year, he averaged 8.7 points and 3.5 assists in 29 minutes per game as the Buckeyes’ starting point guard. Down the stretch with Carton away from the team, Walker found his groove, scoring at least 11 points in the final six games while also improving his assist-to-turnover ratio.

Next season’s outlook: As the only true point guard on the roster, Walker will enter next season as the team’s most indispensable player. Given how rarely he sat out after Carton's departure last season, he should set a career high in minutes in 2020-21. A returning captain and someone Holtmann has constantly referred to as a future coach, Walker will run the show as a fifth-year senior. For the Buckeyes to reach their ceiling, they’ll need him to continue his strong late-season play into his final year at Ohio State.

 
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By declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft, Walker's able to get feedback from professional teams about what he needs to improve as he prepares for his final year of college basketball. It's a common practice that has only increased in popularity in recent years. Last year, 175 college players entered their names into the 2019 NBA Draft, per 247Sports, with many – including Wesson – opting to eventually pull themselves out of consideration and remain in school.
 
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CJ WALKER TO PULL OUT OF 2020 NBA DRAFT, RETURN TO OHIO STATE FOR SENIOR SEASON

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In a widely expected move, Ohio State senior-to-be guard CJ Walker officially announced on Saturday that he would be pulling his name out of the 2020 NBA draft and returning to Columbus for his final season.



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...to-pull-out-of-nba-draft-return-to-ohio-state
 
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Although listed as the shortest player on the roster, CJ Walker’s leadership and play will have a heightened impact on Ohio State’s success throughout the 2020-21 season.

The redshirt senior guard hit his stride in the final stretch of games in the 2019-20 season, averaging 13.7 points and 4.3 assists over the last six games. Along with improved play and a bump in minutes following the absence of former Ohio State guard DJ Carton, head coach Chris Holtmann said the Florida State transfer has been a valued leader for the team.

“He’s a terrific kid. He is an exceptional leader,” Holtmann said Friday in a Zoom call. “I think he really does embrace kinda how we want to do things. He’s an everyday guy.”

The leadership aspect has taken on new life in an environment that is dominated by COVID-19 concerns, as Walker said that he hopes to be an example for his teammates in making safe choices to have a season.

“That sacrifice is really big, just being disciplined and knowing that my season matters, our season as a team matters,” Walker said Friday in a Zoom call. “I want to play, so I’m going to sacrifice everything to be able to play, and I just want to give that example to my teammates as well so we can have a season.”

As far as welcoming a new roster, Walker is not concerned with the team chemistry and his role as point guard for the team.

“I feel like me being a vocal leader just makes it that much easier, so I’m not too worried about chemistry and things like that,” Walker said. “I feel like I’ll be able to take care of that — me being a leader and just us being basketball players.”
 
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CJ WALKER (8.7 POINTS, 42.7/32.1/81.2 SHOOTING SPLITS LAST YEAR)

WHY HE WILL
Once DJ Carton took a leave of absence, Walker took off. Heating up down the stretch in his first year as a Buckeye, he averaged 13.7 points in his final six games while scoring double figures in all six contests and shooting at least 50 percent from the field in four of them. He has an outside chance to lead his team in points as a fifth-year senior in 2020-21 if he can continue his late-season momentum. He’s efficient at the free-throw line (81.2 percent last year) and showed an ability to get into a groove down the stretch. He needs to improve his 32.1-percent 3-point stroke to have a chance.

WHY HE WON'T
This isn’t the plan. The Buckeyes don’t intend to run their offense in a way where he becomes the go-to scorer. As the starting point guard, even with several other ball-handlers on the roster (Washington, Sueing and Jimmy Sotos) Walker will be counted on as the primary facilitator. If all goes according to plan, he will lead Ohio State in assists rather than points.
 
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