@dustinragusa24 is back today with some hoops breakdown. Enjoy this great in-depth look on Rondel Walker.
Oklahoma State freshman guard Rondel Walker started out the season looking like most first-year players do in their debut performance. He played 11 minutes and the only stats he recorded were one rebound and one personal foul.
However, over the past two games Walker has recorded 35 points, four rebounds, a block and a steal. In addition, he was the team’s leading scorer in their last game against Marquette, and provided a huge spark off the bench in the first half to help the Cowboys rally back from an early deficit.
The former four-star recruit was expected to get a decent amount of playing time in his first year, and after OSU’s season opener it looked like he would have the third or fourth most minutes off the bench. But, this has not been the case in the Pokes’ last two matchups as Walker had the second most minutes of the bench players against Texas Southern, and led the bench players in minutes against the Golden Eagles.
Even when Cowboy guards Avery Anderson and Chris Harris Jr. return to action, as they have both recently missed time, I think Walker will maintain his recently increased role on coach Mike Boynton’s squad. Below I’ll take a look at just how Walker has been making an impact this year on both ends of the floor.
Scoring off the Bounce
One of the primary ways Walker has gotten buckets this season is catching the ball on the perimeter, putting it on the floor and driving to the basket. In the clip below, you’ll see him catch the pass in the left corner and make a nice pump fake to cause the nearest defender to leave his feet. He gets all the way in lane and takes a little bit of contact but has the balance to still finish.
In the next video, you’ll see Walker score again off the dribble against the Tigers.
Lastly, you’ll see the OKC native drive past a Marquette defender in the following clip. Walker does a good job of attacking the defender’s top foot. When a defender is shaded one way, attacking the top foot gives the ball handler a good opportunity to turn the corner. The defender will have to step backward before he can reset into a solid defensive position.
Lighting It Up from the Corner
So far this season, Walker is 3-for-9 from 3-point range, or 33 percent. This isn’t a stellar percentage, but one thing I’ve noticed is he can knock them down consistently from the corner… specifically the right corner, as you’ll see in the video below.
When you have guys like Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likekele who excel at getting into the lane, these corner 3s will be open when the defense collapses to stop the penetration. Walker has shown the ability to hit these shots, as you’ll see another example of below, and if he can continue to hit them at a high clip it will be a huge plus for this offense.
Running the Floor in Transition
The other main way Walker has racked up numbers in the scoring department is on the fastbreak. His athleticism, speed and overall willingness to get out and run make him a great asset to have in transition. Below you’ll see Walker take off right when he sees his Cowboy teammate come up with the steal. Doing this allows the Pokes to get a two-on-one situation and Walker finishes at the rim.
Here again you see defense lead to offense, and Walker is able to get the bucket and the foul.
Being able to score points on the fast break off turnovers is going to be huge for this team, and having guys who can run the floor like Walker is a nice advantage.
Defense
Walker brings the energy on defense. He has incredibly active hands and has already deflected several passes and has the one steal shown in the following video.
Walker was really impressive at the top of the Cowboy’s 2-3 zone defense that coach Boynton utilized heavily against the Golden Eagles. Below you’ll see his quickness and active hands help the Pokes get the stop on the defensive end.
If Walker can continue to make an impact on both ends of the floor, his role will continue to increase. He’s also been money from the free-throw line, going 9-for-10 on the year. I think he has the talent to have a really solid career at OSU, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for him.