UH men's basketball head coach sees Jarace Walker as 'a kid whose best days are way ahead of him'

Jarace Walker signed with the University of Houston men’s basketball program, giving him a chance to show his impact on games.

Walker has a decorative basketball career. He’s ranked No. 13 nationally by 247Sports and No. 19 in the ESPN100.

“Hey, @UHouston fans... Help us welcome @JaraceW Jarace Walker as the newest Cougar,” the Houston Men’s Hoops, the official Twitter page for the University of Houston men’s basketball, wrote on Twitter.

He is best from the midrange, facing up, and can operate effectively from the pinch-post area as a driver and shooter, ESPN reported.

“I see (Walker) as a kid whose best days are way ahead of him,” Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said to the university. “He can be your best player, but he also can be a key part of a team because he can rebound and he can pass. He can play multiple positions. From 15 feet in, he creates problems because he can drive it; he can pass it; he plays above the rim. He can make a shot. He is a winner. We chose to recruit (Walker), and he chose us because we have what he needs, and he has what we need. That’s what makes it a great match. The sky is the limit for Jarace Walker. He will be as good as he chooses to be.”

Originally from New Freedom, Pennsylvania, Walker did the last four seasons at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for Head Coach Sean McAloon, the university reported.

“We are expecting big things from Jarace this season,” McAloon said to ESPN. “Not only on the court, but from a leadership standpoint. In terms of improvement, he has finally embraced his body and understanding of starting in the lane and working from there. He's had an impressive fall from that standpoint, and we expect that to carry over for the year.”

A five-star recruit, Walker chose Houston, a 2021 Final Four participant, over Alabama and Auburn.

Walker completes a stellar recruiting hat trick by the Cougars. Houston now has a program-record three ESPN 100 commitments in the current high-school senior class.

The 6-foot-8-inch, 220-pound Walker is a four-year letterman at IMG, which is located in Bradenton, Florida. He was a freshman when he led the school to the GEICO Nationals title.