NBA Draft 2024: Link Academy's Ja'Kobe Walter selected by Toronto Raptors

Ja'Kobe Walter became the first player out of Link Academy to be selected in the first round of an NBA Draft on Wednesday night when he was taken by the Toronto Raptors with the 19th pick.

Walter, who played one year at the Branson-based high school program, is the third Lion to be selected in Link Academy's three seasons. He stood out on the 2022-23 team that won a national championship.

Walter, originally from McKinney, Texas, played his lone season of collegiate ball at Baylor where he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He was a five-star prospect and ESPN's No. 17-ranked player out of high school. Notably, he was the MVP of the 2023 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

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Ja'Kobe Walter stats at Baylor

In addition to his Big 12 Freshman of the Year honor, Walter was an all-league third-teamer who started all 35 games averaging 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He was a 37.6% shooter including a 34.1% clip from the outside.

At 6-foot-5, Walter led Baylor to a 24-11 season that ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was the team's leading scorer and third-leading rebounder.

USA Today scouting report on Ja'Kobe Walter

• Big guard with a massive wingspan, gives him ability to play both the two and the three at the next level
• Has requisite size and frame to be more than just an outside shooter, displays natural scoring abilities and can finish above the rim
• Excellent catch-and-shoot player, can also hit shots off the dribble and in isolation. Likely to be a volume shooter at the next level and plays with good pace and understanding of his role
• Very young with room to grow, and comes from a program in Baylor that is developing guards at a high rate
• Tunnel vision on offense at times, doesn’t show much as a facilitator and can be a black hole who is prone to streaks of inefficiency
• Despite length and frame, not a particularly great defensive player. Has lapses on that end of the floor and struggles with physicality and quicker guards
• Needs to add muscle to his frame to handle NBA levels of physicality on both ends of the floor
• Offensive touch is inconsistent, needs to add to his bag to become more consistent scorer