By JACOB POLACHECK
After committing April 12, UNC transfer Walker Kessler has officially signed with Auburn.
“Sometimes things take time and they are better with patience,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “We were recruiting Walker since he was a sophomore and we were one of the first schools to offer him. The first time we ever laid eyes on him was at our team camp. That was the beginning of our relationship. It’s been so much fun to watch Walker work, train and develop into a state champion and a 5-star prospect.
“One of Walker’s greatest assets is his family with that love and that relationship. We both know the feeling that with our family we can accomplish anything. Kind of like an artist, I’m just excited to get my hands on a piece of clay. He’s a 7-foot-1, stretch 5-man who will be a joy to play call for and utilize as a mismatch.”
Kessler, a 7-foot-1, 245-pound freshman center out of Newnan, GA, averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.9 blocks as a freshman during the 2020-21 season.
“I am excited to play for a great coach at an awesome school and be close to home and my family,” Kessler said April 12. “War eagle!”
Coming out of Woodward (GA) Academy, Kessler was ranked by 247Sports.com as the No. 6 center and No. 28 overall prospect in the Class of 2020.
After losing freshman guard Sharife Cooper to the NBA Draft, Auburn has been busy in the transfer portal, landing commitments from Eastern Kentucky guard Wendell Green Jr. and Charleston guard Zep Jasper.
Auburn is also set to bring in five-star forward Jabari Smith Jr. and four-star shooting guard Trey Alexander in its 2021 recruiting class.
Photo: UNC Athletics
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