Jarace Walker
Walker with the Indiana Pacers in 2025 | |
| No. 5 – Indiana Pacers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward / small forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 4, 2003 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Houston (2022–2023) |
| NBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 8th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Washington Wizards |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Indiana Pacers |
| 2023–2025 | →Indiana Mad Ants |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Jarace Isaiah Walker (/ˈdʒɛərəs/ JAIR-əss;[1] born September 4, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Walker was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class. He played college basketball for the Houston Cougars and was selected eighth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2023 NBA draft before being traded to the Pacers later that offseason.
High school career
Walker attended Susquehannock High School in York County, Pennsylvania for his freshman year before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[2][3][4] As a senior, he averaged 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and four assists per game. He was selected to play in the 2022 McDonalds All-American Game.[5]
Recruiting
Walker was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class, according to major recruiting services. On November 4, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for Houston over offers from Alabama and Auburn.[6][7]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarace Walker PF |
New Freedom, PA | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Nov 4, 2021 | |
| Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (92) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Rivals: 12 247Sports: 12 ESPN: 10 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Professional career
Indiana Pacers (2023—present)
The Washington Wizards selected Walker with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and traded him to the Indiana Pacers along with two future second-round picks for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly, the seventh overall pick.[8] Walker became the highest-drafted prospect from the University of Houston since Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was taken with the first overall pick by the Houston Rockets in 1984.[9] On July 1, 2023, Walker signed his rookie contract with the Pacers alongside the 26th overall pick Ben Sheppard.[10] Walker's playing time was limited his rookie season, playing behind Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin as the team reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
On May 31, 2025, during game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, Walker suffered an ankle injury in the 125-108 victory which closed out the series. Walker was on crutches after the game and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said that Walker's availability for the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder was uncertain.[11] Walker was ultimately ruled out for the entirety of the NBA Finals as the Pacers lost the series in the deciding Game 7.
Personal life
Walker is the son of Marcia and Horace Walker. He has three older sisters: Jaden, Natichia and Sherelle. Sherelle played volleyball at UMBC and sister Jaden played basketball at Saint Joseph's.[12]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Indiana | 33 | 0 | 10.3 | .409 | .400 | .889 | 1.9 | 1.2 | .5 | .3 | 3.6 |
| 2024–25 | Indiana | 75 | 5 | 15.8 | .472 | .405 | .667 | 3.1 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | 6.1 |
| Career | 108 | 5 | 14.1 | .457 | .404 | .692 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .6 | .3 | 5.4 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Indiana | 9 | 0 | 3.4 | .300 | .000 | .667 | .4 | .4 | .2 | .1 | .9 |
| 2025 | Indiana | 12 | 0 | 9.8 | .382 | .400 | .500 | 1.8 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 3.0 |
| Career | 21 | 0 | 7.0 | .364 | .348 | .571 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | .1 | 2.1 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Houston | 36 | 35 | 27.6 | .465 | .347 | .663 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 11.2 |
References
- ^ "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "Superstar seventh-grader Jarace Walker facing life-changing decision". USA TODAY High School Sports. March 20, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Bodani, Frank. "Susquehannock basketball phenom Jarace Walker taking his talents out of state". York Daily Record.
- ^ ROSE, ROB. "York County sophomore sensation Jarace Walker impresses despite IMG Academy's loss at UMBC". York Dispatch.
- ^ "Houston signee Jarace Walker named McDonald's All-American".
- ^ "5-star forward Walker says he'll play for Houston". ESPN.com. November 5, 2021.
- ^ "UH lands commitment from Jarace Walker, nation's top high school power forward".
- ^ Wallace, Ava (June 23, 2023). "Wizards, with eye on long-term future, take French project Bilal Coulibaly". Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "NBA Draft 2023: Former UH star Jarace Walker selected #8 overall". FoxSports. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Pacers Sign Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard". HoopsRumors. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Pacers forward Jarace Walker injures right ankle, leaving his availability for the NBA Finals uncertain". Associated Press. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
Pacers forward Jarace Walker was on crutches with a right ankle injury following Indiana's 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night and coach Rick Carlisle said he was uncertain of Walker's availability for the NBA Finals.
- ^ "Jarace Walker - Men's Basketball". University of Houston Athletics.