UNC Basketball: 5-star UNC signee leads team to state championship

5-star UNC basketball signee Walker Kessler scores 17 points, and leads Woodward Academy to the 2020 Class AAAA title.

Walker Kessler has had a terrific senior season that includes a handful of individual achievements, such as signing with the University of North Carolina, or receiving an invitation to the McDonald’s All-American Game. But now he’s also helped his team achieve its ultimate goal, as Kessler and Woodward Academy beat Cross Creek 75-56 in the Class AAAA championship game at Macon Coliseum on Friday night.

The 7-foot, 245-pound Kessler scored a team-high 17 points on a 7-for-11 shooting performance and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. He pulled down nine rebounds to go along with three assists and a steal. But despite his strong offensive numbers against the Razorbacks, it may have been his presence on the defensive end that mattered most. Kessler blocked a game-high six shots, and altered a number of others, making it difficult for Cross Creek to get easy buckets.

Kessler played a huge role in leading his team to a 30-2 record on the season, and a 13-1 mark in conference play. He finished the season averaging 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.2 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

His strength, size and defensive tenacity affected opposing offenses all year long. His impact was felt whether he was blocking shots, deflecting the ball or simply making the low post a difficult place for his opposition to score. His style of play and ability to hit shots from long-range helped Woodward with spacing on the offensive end of the court — something that will no doubt benefit Roy Williams and the Tar Heels next season.

The next time we see Kessler on a basketball court it’ll be alongside future Tar Heels Day’Ron Sharpe, Caleb Love and R.J. Davis in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Wednesday, April 1.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Walker Kessler, and the entire UNC basketball recruiting class of 2020.